[Current views on periodontosis]. / Soucasny pohled na parodontózu.

Diseases of the suspensory dental apparatus are very widespread. Its consequences and course frequently lead to restriction of dental function and frequently also to loss of teeth with adverse health, social and economic sequelae. The objective of the present paper is to makes doctors of non-stomatological disciplines familiar with contemporary views on the genesis and therapy of these diseases.

[Regeneration of the thread-like papillae in the rat tongue]. / Uber die Regeneration der fadenförmigen Papillen der Zunge der Ratte.

The regeneration capacity of the filiform papillae of the rat tongue was studied after destruction through abrasion in 18 rats after time intervals of 1 1/2 days until 7 months. By abrasion were destroyed the epithelial layer, the tunica propria mucosae and part of the muscle layers. Lightmicroscopic investigation showed formation of new filiform papillae, similar in structure to the normal tissue. Scanning electron microscopic investigation brought further details. It showed clearly that in the regeneration area the newly formed filiform papillae were irregularly distributed and of different shapes. These studies make it clear that newly formed epithelial as well as connective tissue has a generally coded property to form new filiform papillae. No fungiform papillae were ever seen to regenerate. It is concluded that these are higher differentiated organs with no capacity to regenerate.

Hairlike variations of filiform papillae in the human tongue.

The ultrastructural characteristics of the hairlike variations of filiform papillae in the human tongue were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The scanning electron microscope gives evidence of a three-dimensional image of abnormally long secondary papillae with the epithelial cells arranged like roof tiles. These are partly adhering, partly detached, and then protruding from the core, thus forming the hairlike structure. Transmission electron microscopy of ultrathin sections shows single or partly adhering, orthokeratinized epithelial surface cells, mostly with distinct signs of degradation, surrounded by microorganisms. The pathomorphologic picture of elongated, hairlike filiform papillae was observed on the tongue coating of patients with clinically diagnosed hairy tongue but also on some small areas of the tongue of infants. These latter findings cannot be characterized by the clinical term "hairy tongue" but must be considered to be hairlike variations of filiform papillae.

The ultrastructure of geographic tongue.

Two typical cases of "geographic tongue" were investigated by means of the electron microscope. Biopsy specimens of both including the white elevated and the smooth erythematous areas of the lesions were, after routine processing, studied in semithin and ultrathin sections with a JEM 7A electron microscope. Results revealed, in the white elevated areas of the lesions, subepithelial polymorphonuclear infiltrates and microabsesses, leukocyte invasion into the epithelial layer, interepithelial edema, rupture of cell juctions, rich glycogen deposits in epithelial cells, lack of differentiation into keratinized cells, and cell necrosis with exfoliation of necrotic epithelial cells and leukocytes in the surface layer. The erythematous, smooth areas revealed pathomorphologic features of healing : some mononuclear infiltrate cells in sub- and interepithelial positions, two types of basal cell, occurring in groups, with features of either typical epidermal basal cells of immature basal cells, filament and filament bundle formation in the spinous layer, the lack of a stratum granulosum, and incomplete keratinization or parakeratinization in the surface layer. Differentiation into filiform papillae was lacking in this area. The findings have been discussed in relation to the disturbances of the keratinization process.

[The development of the filiform papillae in the human tongue]. / Die Entwicklung der fadenförmigen Papillen der menschlichen Zunge

Filiform papillae are described in a 4-month-old fetus, in premature children (22-36 weeks) and in children who died soon after birth. Under the scanning electron microscope papillae filiformes often displayed tubercles appearing either independently or arising near the base of the tongue from obliquely running ridges dividing afterwards into tubercles. Some SEM specimens showed further development of papillae from tubercles and cylindrical papillae into papillae quite similar to those found in a fully developed tongue. They were however significantly smaller. Filiform papillae are more varied in the stage of development than in the fully developed tongue, because developmental stages could be observed here. We could also see spheroid papillae with tiny processes on the top or large scales on the circumference besides the above mentioned formations. Even places with "hairs" resembling those of the hair-tongue were found. These atypical findings were most likely pathological changes resulting from hypoxia before death.

[Fine structural study of keratinization of the filiform papillae in the tongue in humans]. / Feinstrukturelle Untersuchungen zur Keratinisierung der Papilla filiformis der Zunge des Menschen

The fine structure of the keratinization of the papilla filiformis of the human tongue was described for the first time; Two biopsies of normal tongue tissue were fixed in 2,5% phosphate-buffered glutaraldehyde, postfixed in 1% osmiumtetroxyde, embedded in Durcopan und contrasted ultrathin sections were examined by electron microscopes JEM 7A and 100B. The findings show a highly configurated epithel-connective tissue border with basal lamina and irregular hemidesmosomes. The epithelial structure of the interpapillary area is identical with the fine structure of the human buccal mucosa, which was classified as non-keratinized or incompletely keratinized. Accordingly, a stratum granulosum is missing. After loss of nucleus and organelles, surface cells become flattened, parallel to the surface of the tongue and have a fine fibrillar cytoplasm. The papilla filiformis is formed by cell growth along the secondary connective tissue papillae and consequently tube-like epithelial structures appear. In the papillary area basal and stratum spinosum cells show epidermal structural features. A difference from epidermal and other oral epithelial cells becomes apparent for the first time in the stratum granulosum by the appearance of a great number of round, small, electron-dense KHG, surrounded by ribosomes. The KHG are not associated with tonofilaments. In the area of the walls of the tubes 1...3 mum large, electron-dense structures are formed by fusion of several KHG. With further differentiation these large KHG disintegrate into bulky or granular masses, filling the cell cytoplasm and thus mask the tonofilaments. The cells at the borders of the tubes show a great structural variability. After the disintegration of nucleus and organelles, the cytoplasm is formed by randomly oriented filaments of different packing or by fiber-bundles. Yet the interfibrilla embedding substance, typical of orthokeratinization is mostly lackingmin some cells of the tubeborders, masses of disintegrated KHG substance are masking the fibrillar cell cytoplasm. In other areas, where the KHG do not increase by fusion, intense fibrillar packing and abrupt keratinization becomes apparent. At the rim of the tube fully keratinized epithelial threads are regularly found. These are lacking at the bottom of the tubes. All surface areas show a strong tendency towards desquamation. Thus a more or less wide surface plaque is formed on the tongue, consisting of desquamated and disintegrated surface cells and of bacterial. Groups of little differentiated basal cells, which can be considered as the initial material for an accelerated regeneration, can be evaluated as a truly remarkable finding. This accelerated regeneration might be due to an increased wear of the inclompletely keratinized cells of the bulk of the papilla filiformis of the human tongue. Based on the findings of this study, an attempt was made, to explain the pathological reactions of human tongue epithelium in various systemic diseases.