Biochemistry of the Periodontal Ligament in Health and Disease Flashcards
What is the origin of all connective tissues?
Mesodermal origin
Give an example of a connective tissue in the periodontium?
The periodontal ligament
Give a generic function description of the function of connective tissue
Binding / connecting other tissue systems (such as muscle to skin) or organs
What are connective tissues made up of?
Nerves
Blood vessels
Cells
The extracellular matrix (ECM) that surrounds these cells and in to which they are embedded
What can the extracellular matrix be further divided into?
- The fibrous components
2. The “Cement” surrounding these fibres.
What is the “Cement” division of the ECM called?
The ground substance
What can the fibrous component of connective tissue be divided into?
Sub-divided in to major and minor fibres, according the size of their fibre diameters.
Name some of the cells found in the PDL
Fibroblasts
Cementoblasts
Osteoblasts
Give an example of the major fibres found in the ECM
Collagen
Give an example of the minor fibres found in the ECM
Oxytalan
Elastin
What makes up 3% of the ECM?
The minor fibres
What do elastic fibres do in connective tissues?
They provide elasticity to the tissue
What are mature elastic fibres made up of?
2 components:
- Microfibrillar component
- Inner core (or the filling)
Describe the microfibrillar component of mature elastic fibres
It is an external tube like structure in the elastic fibre
Describe the Inner core component of mature elastic fibres
It is the “filling”, made up of an amorphous polymeric protein called elastin
How much of the mature elastic fibre is made up of elastin protein?
90%
Name the minor fibres in the PDL in increasing level of maturity
Oxytalan
Elaunin
Elastin
What do most mature connective tissues have in their ECM?
Elastin fibres
What are elastin fibres made up of?
Microfibrillar protein plus its elastin core
Describe elastin fibres in the developing foetus
When an elastin fibre is first developing in foetal connective tissues, only the microfibrillar component is present – there is no elastin protein filling until later, when the tissue matures.
What are the microfibrillar fibres at the foetal stage called?
Oxytalan fibres
What are immature elastin fibres called?
Oxytalan fibres
What happens as the connective tissue begins to mature in regards to minor fibres
Elastin protein is deposited within the microfibrillar network to start to produce fibres more similar to those we see in mature tissues. At this intermediate stage, the fibres are known as “elaunin fibres”.
How are minor fibres in the PDL different to other connective tissues?
Oxytalan fibres are present in periodontal ligament and some elaunin has been reported but no mature elastin fibres in the PDL
What is the major fibrous component of connective tissues?
COLLAGEN
What do collagen fibres look like under the microscope?
Collagen fibrils have a characteristic striped or banded appearance.
What is the periodontium?
The Molex tissues that attaches to the tooth to the jaw
What are 4 components of the periodontium?
- Alveolar bone
- Cementum
- Periodontal ligament
- The gingiva
What are all types of connective tissues made up of?
- Cells
2. A grond substance or extracellular matrix
What is the ground substance?
Ground substance is a jelly like substance that contains fibres, cells vascular tissue and nerves
When does the ground substance become extracellular matrix?
When the jelly like pool combines with fibres that form the tissue
What cells can be found in the PDL?
Fibroblasts
cementoblasts
Osteoblasts
What do fibroblasts do?
Form all the collagen fibres and secretes enzyme that degrades them
What do cementoblasts do?
Forms the cementum
What do the minor fibres make up in the PDL?
3% Of the extra cellular matrix
Name the 3 main minor fibres in increasing order of maturity
Oxytalan
Elaunin
Elastin
What are elastic fibres mainly formed of?
A micro fibrillar coat and a protein core
Describe the protein core of young elastin fibres
The protein core is smaller in younger fibres
Describe oxytalan
They are immature minor fibres
They are only made up of the microfibrilar coat it is hollow without a protein core
What happens to oxytalan as the tissue matures?
Protein begins to deposit inside the microfibrilar coat until the core is no longer hollow
What is matured oxytalan called?
elaunin
What is mature elaunin called?
Elastin
Which minor fibres make up the PDL?
Oxytalan and elaunin
Which minor fibre is NOT found in the PDL?
Elastin
The fact that the PDL doesn’t contain any mature elastin shows what?
It maintains some embryonic characters