The role of gingival connective tissue in determining epithelial differentiation

Abstract

Free grafts of connective tissue, without epithelium, were transplanted from either the keratinized gingiva or the nonkeratinized alveolar mucosa (controls) into areas of the alveolar mucosa in 7 monkeys. The grafts were placed in pouches created in the connective tissue as close as possible to the overlying epithelium. After 3-4 wk, the transplants were exposed by removal of the overlying tissue in order to allow epithelialization from the surrounding nonkeratinized alveolar mucosa. The transplants were examined clinically and histologically at time periods between 1 and 12 mth. The gingival connective tissue grafts became covered with keratinized epithelium displaying the same characteristics as those of normal gingival epithelium. The alveolar mucosa transplants were covered with nonkeratinized epithelium. This indicates that gingival connective tissue is capable of inducing the formation of a keratinized gingival epithelium.