Biomaterial Database

Ultrastructural morphology of vascular endothelial junctions in periodontal ligament. 1994

K Chintakanon, and M R Sims

Chang Mai University, Thailand.

The TEM was used to categorize vessels and their junctions in normal and tensioned rat maxillary molar periodontal ligament. In tensioned periodontal ligament mean luminal diameters of capillaries were significantly smaller (p < 0.001). Goniometer tilting of sections with apparent tight regions revealed that only 16 per cent were actual tight junctions. The other regions proved to be close junctions (85 per cent) and open junctions (4 per cent). No gap junctions were found. These findings establish that morphologically the periodontal ligament contains a microvascular bed of 'leaky' endothelium with a potentially high permeability factor.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007365	Intercellular Junctions	Direct contact of a cell with a neighboring cell. Most such junctions are too small to be resolved by light microscopy, but they can be visualized by conventional or freeze-fracture electron microscopy, both of which show that the interacting CELL MEMBRANE and often the underlying CYTOPLASM and the intervening EXTRACELLULAR SPACE are highly specialized in these regions. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p792)	Cell Junctions,Cell Junction,Intercellular Junction,Junction, Cell,Junction, Intercellular,Junctions, Cell,Junctions, Intercellular
D008833	Microcirculation	The circulation of the BLOOD through the MICROVASCULAR NETWORK.	Microvascular Blood Flow,Microvascular Circulation,Blood Flow, Microvascular,Circulation, Microvascular,Flow, Microvascular Blood,Microvascular Blood Flows,Microvascular Circulations
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D010513	Periodontal Ligament	The fibrous CONNECTIVE TISSUE surrounding the TOOTH ROOT, separating it from and attaching it to the alveolar bone (ALVEOLAR PROCESS).	Alveolodental Ligament,Alveolodental Membrane,Gomphosis,Alveolodental Ligaments,Alveolodental Membranes,Gomphoses,Ligament, Alveolodental,Ligament, Periodontal,Membrane, Alveolodental,Periodontal Ligaments
D002196	Capillaries	The minute vessels that connect arterioles and venules.	Capillary Beds,Sinusoidal Beds,Sinusoids,Bed, Sinusoidal,Beds, Sinusoidal,Capillary,Capillary Bed,Sinusoid,Sinusoidal Bed
D002199	Capillary Permeability	The property of blood capillary ENDOTHELIUM that allows for the selective exchange of substances between the blood and surrounding tissues and through membranous barriers such as the BLOOD-AIR BARRIER; BLOOD-AQUEOUS BARRIER; BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER; BLOOD-NERVE BARRIER; BLOOD-RETINAL BARRIER; and BLOOD-TESTIS BARRIER. Small lipid-soluble molecules such as carbon dioxide and oxygen move freely by diffusion. Water and water-soluble molecules cannot pass through the endothelial walls and are dependent on microscopic pores. These pores show narrow areas (TIGHT JUNCTIONS) which may limit large molecule movement.	Microvascular Permeability,Permeability, Capillary,Permeability, Microvascular,Vascular Permeability,Capillary Permeabilities,Microvascular Permeabilities,Permeabilities, Capillary,Permeabilities, Microvascular,Permeabilities, Vascular,Permeability, Vascular,Vascular Permeabilities
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D004730	Endothelium, Vascular	Single pavement layer of cells which line the luminal surface of the entire vascular system and regulate the transport of macromolecules and blood components.	Capillary Endothelium,Vascular Endothelium,Capillary Endotheliums,Endothelium, Capillary,Endotheliums, Capillary,Endotheliums, Vascular,Vascular Endotheliums
D000539	Alveolar Process	The thickest and spongiest part of the maxilla and mandible hollowed out into deep cavities for the teeth.	Alveolar Ridge,Alveolar Processes,Process, Alveolar,Processes, Alveolar,Ridge, Alveolar
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia