The site of collagen resorption in the periodontal ligament of the rodent molar.

In an attempt to determine the pattern of collagen phagocytosis by fibroblasts in the periodontal ligament, a stereologic investigation of the mesial root of the maxillary first molar of the rat was undertaken. The distribution of fibroblasts containing intracellular collagen fibrils was studied at the electron microscope level in the periodontal ligament along resorbing and non-resorbing surfaces of the alveolar wall. It appeared that fibroblasts with collagen-containing vacuoles were more or less randomly distributed across the width of the periodontal ligament. No major differences were observed among the alveolar, cemental and intermediate zones of the ligament. However, local variations in the occurrence of cells containing intracellular collagen fibrils may occur. A relatively high concentration of ingested collagen fibrils was seen in fibroblasts located in the direct vicinity of osteoclasts, but not in the vicinity of osteoblasts. These observations suggest that remodelling of collagen is evenly distributed throughout the ligament, but may be influenced by local circumstances, such as the occurrence of bone resorption.