Beschreibung:
<jats:p>Recent attempts at gaining an understanding of the factors necessary for periodontal reattachment have employed an <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic> system in which connective tissue cells are cultured with dental root discs. The present study was undertaken to optimize culture conditions. Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and root discs were derived from 2 wisdom teeth extracted from each of 3 patients. Pairs of planed root discs (0.5 mm thick) were gently placed in dishes containing autologous PDL‐cells and separated by a 0.5 mm wide gap. After 10 to 13 weeks in culture the specimens were processed for light‐ and electron microscopy and the collagen fibril diameter was determined. In the interdental space, all cultures contained an aggregate of cells and collagen fibrils. Adherent to root discs with exposed dentin was a loose capsule of cells and collagen fibrils oriented parallel to the disc surface. Adjacent to cellular cementum a discontinuous, dense, short fiber fringe was found along the cultureJroot interface. There was some intermingling between cemental and culture collagen fibrils. The fibril diameter of cemental collagen (59.4 ± 5.0 nm) and culture collagen (31.8 ± 3.5 nm) was very different. Thus, autologous PDL‐cell/disc‐cultures can be maintained for prolonged periods of time, resulting in the formation of discontinuous patches of condensed collagen fibrils radiating from some portions of the decalcified cemental surface.</jats:p>