title: Imaging an adapted dentoalveolar complex.
abstract: Adaptation of a rat dentoalveolar complex was illustrated using various imaging modalities. Micro-X-ray computed tomography for 3D modeling, combined with complementary techniques, including image processing, scanning electron microscopy, fluorochrome labeling, conventional histology (H&E, TRAP), and immunohistochemistry (RANKL, OPN) elucidated the dynamic nature of bone, the periodontal ligament-space, and cementum in the rat periodontium. Tomography and electron microscopy illustrated structural adaptation of calcified tissues at a higher resolution. Ongoing biomineralization was analyzed using fluorochrome labeling, and by evaluating attenuation profiles using virtual sections from 3D tomographies. Osteoclastic distribution as a function of anatomical location was illustrated by combining histology, immunohistochemistry, and tomography. While tomography and SEM provided past resorption-related events, future adaptive changes were deduced by identifying matrix biomolecules using immunohistochemistry. Thus, a dynamic picture of the dentoalveolar complex in rats was illustrated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthodontics, Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Ralf-Peter
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Herber
authors.forename: Justine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Seth A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Sunita P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ho