Microvascular Reviews and Communications
Online ISSN : 1880-5906
Print ISSN : 2188-1707
ISSN-L : 2188-1707
Lymphatic architecture of human periodontal tissue beneath the oral epithelium of the free gingiva
Yoshinori AndoAkira Fujimura
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2009 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 17-24

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Abstract
Several studies have described the lymphatic architecture of periodontal tissues, including gingival tissues, using laboratory animals; however, no study has investigated human samples. In the present study, morphological characteristics and architecture of human gingival lymphatic vessels were investigated using clinically healthy gingival tissue with the aim of developing a drug delivery route through lymphatic vessels for clinical application. We collected free gingival tissue excised for therapeutic purposes during periodontal surgery from six patients, and produced frozen serial sections using the film-transfer method. The sections were then stained with 5'-nucleotidase to expose the lymphatic vessels, and three-dimensional images of lymphatic vessels were reconstructed using 3D visualization software. Lymphatic vessels formed networks in the lamina propria on the oral epithelial side in free gingiva, presenting as a layer of rough irregular hexagonal meshes. Blind-ended vessels were observed entering connective tissue papillae through these meshes. The blind-ended vessels did not branch between the base of connective tissue papilla and rod-like structure at the tip, and were positioned at the center of each papilla. The lymphatic architecture of human free gingiva showed a similar distribution to that of blood vessels, although the lymphatic vessels were fewer in number than blood vessels. Activation of drainage through lymphatic vessels in gingiva is considered to be an important therapeutic measure in terms of improvement in edema. [MVRC 3(1): 17-24, 2009]
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© 2009 by Japanese Society for Microcirculation
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