[Oxytalan fibers in the condylar cartilage. Methodologic and experimental contribution of histologic studies conducted on dogs, rabbits and rats].
BACKGROUND
Oxytalan fibers were identified by Fullmer and Lillie in 1958 for the first time, using the same coloring methods utilized for the elastic fibers. However, the istologic preparation had been previously treated with strong oxidation. Oxytalan fibers were found in many organs and tissues of different animal species and seem to be a type of "immature" elastic fiber in a precocious state of development. Anyway, the functional role of oxytalan fibers is still not clear. The oxytalan fibers, located in particular mechanical stress anatomic sides, seem to be connected to a more compact connective tissue in this sides. The purpose of our study is to analyze the anatomic arrangement of the oxytalan fibers in the temporomandibUlar joint of three different animal species: the rat [correction of mouse], the rabbit and the dog.


METHODS
Up to now, a coloring method specific for the oxytalan fibers has not been developed. Therefore, a correct evaluation of their presence requires a systematic approach in which two contiguous sections of a sample, one heavily oxidized and the other non oxidized, are compared.


RESULTS
Our results show the presence of the oxytalan fibers differently located depending of the animal species and the age of the animals.
Deli
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Istituto di Clinica Odontoiatrica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma.
Pantanali
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F
Deli
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Miani
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CM
D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004285:Dogs; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure