A quantitative comparison of collagen phagocytosis in periodontal ligament and transseptal ligament of the rat periodontium.

The phagocytosis of collagen within soft connective tissues can be used as an index of collagen turnover and remodeling. The objective of this study was to compare the levels of collagen phagocytosis in periodontal and transseptal ligaments in the rat in order to provide an indication of the relative collagen-turnover activities within these two tissues. Periodontal and transseptal ligaments from two rats were examined by the techniques of electron microscope stereology. Parameters quantitated included cytoplasm (CC), extracellular collagen (ECC), and intracellular or phagocytosed collagen (ICC). The results indicated that the cells of the transseptal ligament have significantly more ICC than those of periodontal ligament. This suggests that the transseptal ligament in the rat may have a high rate of collagen turnover. There seems to be an increasing body of evidence, including the present results, that the transseptal ligament region of gingiva has a high level of collagen turnover. It seems likely, therefore, that, unless there are marked species differences in collagen turnover, slow remodeling of the transseptal ligament is not responsible for orthodontic relapse. Why relapse of rotated teeth can be reduced by surgical severing or removal of the transseptal tissue remains to be determined.