A scanning electron-microscopic, stereo-pair study of methacrylate corrosion casts of the mouse palatal and molar periodontal microvasculature.

Microvascular beds of the palate, gingiva and periodontal ligament had interconnected but distinct, regional patterns. The palatal vasculature reflected mucosal-crest morphology: crestal capillary vessels of the rugae anastomosed with sagitally-orientated rows of 8 microns capillary loops, and, in the inter-rugal troughs, these formed a flat plexus overlying collecting veins more than 100 microns in diameter. Maxillary and mandibular molar ligaments had similar microvascular patterns. The molar gingiva had a circular, outer capillary and inner venous system linked by radial anastomoses. The outer (7 microns) capillaries enclosed the three molars in a continuous horizontal loop coursing beneath the crestal epithelium; the inner (10-15 microns) venous vessels encircled each molar just below the epithelial attachment. Glomerulus-like vascular formations, with an arterial and venous stalk, were associated with the inner circular system and extended toward the crevicular epithelium. Axially aligned, post-capillary, periodontal-ligament vessels (21 microns) anastomosed with the inner circular system, forming different patterns in the occlusal, middle and apical thirds. The apical pattern comprised an enveloping plexus of anastomosing venous vessels supplied by arterio-venous shunts; similar shunts were present throughout the ligament. The microvascular bed of the mandibular inter-radicular ligament was characterized by the presence of a large venous ampulla measuring 60 by 200 microns. Some regions of the ligament microvasculature drained via the medullary vessels into 50 microns-diameter venules located interdentally deep to the molar apices. Volumetrically, the ligament microvascular bed was predominantly of post-capillary venules, and morphologically, a paired arterial and venous system was not demonstrated.