[Electron microscopic visualization of microbial extracellular metabolic products in an in vitro test]

The present electron microscopic study was performed to investigate the glycocalyx changes of S. mutans species OMZ 176 during incubation with defined substrate limitation (sucrose) and with hydroxyapatite crystals. In an agar with 5 p. c. sucrose can be seen the build-up of proteoglycan complexes, and a strong cell free glycan production in order to hydroxyapatite crystals.