LYMPHATIC ARCHITECTURE OF THE HUMAN GINGIVAL INTERDENTAL PAPILLA

Abstract

Many studies have investigated thelymphatic architecture of head and neck usingexperimental animals, confirming theexistence of lymphatic networks beneath theepithelium in gingival tissue. In this study, weinvestigated the use of these lymphatics as adrug delivery route by studying thearchitecture of lymphatic vessels in humaninterdental papilla. Serial cryosections werecut using the film-transfer method. To identifylymphatics, the sections were stained usingenzyme histochemical and immunohistochemicaltechniques and three-dimensionalimages of lymphatics were reconstructed using3D visualization software. Capillary lymphaticnetworks were observed in the lamina propriabeneath the epithelium in human interdentalpapilla, and they joined with lymphaticnetworks beneath the epithelium in freegingiva. The networks consisted of a singlelayer of large irregular, hexagonal meshes andprecollecting lymphatic vessels heading towardcollecting lymphatic vessels that exited on theperiosteum of the alveolar crest. Thesefindings suggest that lymphatic flow from theinterdental papilla drains into collectinglymphatic vessels running buccolingually onthe alveolar crest of the interdental papilla.This may be an important anatomical featureduring inflammation throughout the oralcavity in that the drainage function ismaintained by part of lymphatic flow that isnot impaired during the healing process.