Search

There was a statistically significant shift towards increased proportions of type I Langerhans cells (containing many Langerhans-cell granules) and reduced proportions of both type II Langerhans cells (containing few granules) and indeterminate cells in diseased oral epithelium when compared to healthy oral epithelium. Langerhans cells and indeterminate cells were also seen in the sulcular epithelium of healthy and diseased specimens but never in junctional or pocket-lining epithelium.

Osteoclasts from growth plates of affected (mi/mi) and control (mi/+) microphthalmic mice, from newborn to 15 days old, were examined. Osteoclasts from unaffected mice were generally large, multinucleated cells with distinct ruffled borders and clear zones. Osteoclasts from the mi/mi litter mates were predominantly mononucleated, lacking in ruffled borders, clear zones and an abundance of organelles, features not normally associated with a functioning resorptive cell. The lamina limitans was more distinct in mi/mi mice. By 15 days, no evidence of bone resorption was seen in mi/mi mice. The immature appearance of osteoclasts and the lack of bone marrow cavity formation in mi/mi mice may result from either a fusion defect or from a limited life span of osteoclasts.