Surface characteristics of cells from different layers of keratinized and non-keratinized oral epithelia

Portions of clinically healthy non-keratinized and keratinized oral epithelia were removed from adult vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). The epithelium was separated from the underlying lamina propria by trypsin digestion, following which the epithelial cells were separated from the various epithelial layers. These were examined with the light and scanning electron microscope. Cells from non-keratinized epithelia have surface microplications while those from keratinized epithelia show microvilli and pits. Two distinct types of cell are therefore present. It is suggested that the different surface appearances are related to different types of mechanical adhesion between the cells.