[Age-related changes in the ultrastructural organization of the human gingival epithelium]

By means of transmissive and scanning electron microscopy 103 gingival bioptates in practically healthy persons at the age of 18-80 years have been studied. At ageing essential changes take place in all structural elements of the epithelium. The basal membrane is intermittent and loose. In cytoplasm of the cells of the basal layer epithelium the amount of microfilaments increases essentially, and as a result it becomes electron opaque. Tonofibrillar fasciculi of the spinous layer cells are fragmented, their contours are indistinct. In cytoplasm of the granular layer cells amount of keratohyalin granules increases, their size becomes large and their typical form is lost. In cytoplasm of the basal, spinous and granular layer cells the amount of organells decreases. Mitochondria acquire the appearance of electron translucent cavities with discomplexic, and sometimes, destroyed cristae. Rather great changes occur in intercellular interrelations. In all the layers some intercellular spaces are widen, in the spaces formed isolated desmosomes and other debries of cellular structures are formed. Sharp changes of microrelief of the granular layer epitheliocytes are observed. The ultrastructural rearrangements of epitheliocytes, revealed in the human gingiva, demonstrate certain disturbances in keratinization processes, in mechanical firmness, as well as in barrier function of the epithelial layer.