title: [The TEM investigations of lymphatic vessels in the acute inflamed dental pulps].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible ultrastructural modifications of the lymphatic capillaries in the acute inflamed dental pulps.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ultrastructural features of the lymphatic vessels endothelial wall in the human normal and acute inflamed dental pulps were investigated by TEM using conventional methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lymphatic capillaries in normal dental pulp were characterized by a thin wall with an irregular profile. The endothelial cells were joined one another by specialized junctional complexes, such as end-to-end contacts, overlapping and more complex interdigitation. Opening junctions were never present in these vessels. The cytoplasm of the endothelial cells was rich in micropinocytotic vesicles. In the acute inflamed pulpal tissue, the lymphatic vessels were dilated and the intercellular adjoining structure were less intricate, end-to-end contacts and overlaping were most frequent ones. Opening junctions were frequently detectable. In particular, the micropinocytotic vesicles were almost absent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the acute inflamed pulpal tissue, the modification occurs in the diameter of lymphatic capillaries, intercellular adjoining structures and the amounts of micropinocytotic vesicles, so we thought that a network of lymphatic vessels drained the dental pulp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Shandong Medical University, Shandong 250012, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Z P
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Q G
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Qi