[Elastic system fibers of healthy human gingiva]

The elastic system fibers, i.e. oxytalan, elaunin and elastic fibers have respectively a fibrillar structure (oxytalan fibers), an amorphous structure (elastic fibers), or a mixed structure (elaunin fibers). The morphological distribution of these fibers is characterized by the presence of oxytalan, elaunin and elastic fibers in the upper medium and deep layers of gingival connective tissue. If the amorphous component is made up of elastin the microfibrillar component consist of structural glycoproteins containing aminoacids different of those found in elastin. Elastin is synthesized by gingival fibroblasts in the form of a precursor, tropoelastin, then disposed at the surface of the microfibrillar component and incorporated in the amorphous component.