Nuclear size and cytochemical changes during autolysis in free gingival autograft epithelium

Karyometric and cytophotometric measurements of DNA and RNA have been evaluated in gingival graft epithelium. The study was conducted during the first 20 hours from the time of grafting when the graft epithelium undergoes a process of autolysis. Both basal cell and prickle cell layers were used. The results showed an increase in optical density for Feulgen-DNA according to the time of grafting. At the same time pentose nucleic acid (RNA) and nuclear size showed decreasing values. It was concluded that pycnosis was the usual course of nuclear autolysis in graft epithelium. In addition gingival graft epithelium was found to be an useful model for the study of cell autolysis in vivo.