Resorption of elastic fibers in monkey gingival connective tissue: ultrastructural and immunocytochemical evidence

Little is known about the remodeling of elastic fibers in gingival connective tissue. In this study, elastic fibers in the lamina propria of monkey gingiva were examined by transmission electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry. Some elastic fibers were localized at invagination on the surface of the narrow processes of fibroblasts distributed among dense assemblies of collagen fibrils, and also within coated pits, which were pinching off as coated vesicles. At a higher magnification, the coated vesicles contained filamentous structures, as well as pentagonal structures similar those previously reported in elastic fibers. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated positive staining for fibrillin, one of the main components of microfibril, localized either in the coated pits or vesicles. These observations indicate that at least some elastic fibers were resorbed by fibroblasts, and that, in spite of the general belief that little remodeling of elastic fibers occurs under normal conditions, resorption of elastic fibers does occur in monkey gingival connective tissue. The functional significance of this is not yet clear, but it may be involved in facilitating the delicate and efficient adaptation of tissue to physical requirements during mastication.