Oxytalan connective tissue fibers: a review

Oxytalan connective tissue fibers are a separate and distinct fiber type. Although current histochemical methods cannot distinguish pre-elastic from oxytalan fibers, the two fiber types are readily distinguished by electron microscopy. Oxytalan fibers are found in periodontal membranes of all teeth of man, monkeys, rats, guinea pigs and mice. Increased numbers and size of oxytalan fibers are observed in periodontal membranes of teeth subjected to increased stress, such as those used for bridge abutments. Edwards (1968) observed increased size and number of oxytalan fibers in periodontal membranes of dog incisors subjected to orthodontic forces. Some oxytalan fibers serve to support the blood and lymphatic vessels leading to the teeth. Oxytalan fibers appear to have a protein component and a stainable component digestible with beta-glucuronidase after peracetic acid digestion. Oxytalan fibers develop in repair tissues of the periodontal membrane. Although oxytalan fibers probably develop in relation to tumors developed from dental tissues, electron microscopy must be employed to distinguish oxytalan from developing elastic tissues inasmuch as histochemical methods are inadequate.