Histologic study of elastin-like fibers in the attached gingiva

Fifty-seven specimens of attached gingiva have been stained for elastic fibers. The number of elastin-like fibers in the papillary layer and reticular layer of the lamina propria have been scored using a scale of 0 to 3. Using similar H & E stained sections, the amount of inflammation was also scored. The presence of elastinlike fibers in the reticular layer of lamina propria of the attached gingiva has been described. Fibers have been found in the walls of blood vessels and they have been found intermingled with the dense collagenous tissue. While an attempt was made to establish a relationship between the relative number of elastin-like fibers and patient's age or degree of inflammation, lack of sufficient number of specimens at age troups precluded this.