Identification of osteoclasts and their mononuclear precursors. A comparative histological and histochemical study in hamster periodontitis

B Baroukh, JL Saffar - Journal of periodontal research, 1991 - Wiley Online Library
B Baroukh, JL Saffar
Journal of periodontal research, 1991Wiley Online Library
Quantification of osteoclast resorption, a good index of periodontitis destruction, is primarily
based on osteoclast identification. As their identification is sometimes dubious, we
compared osteoclastic counts in hamster specimens processed for either routine histology
or tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. No difference was found between
the two approaches concerning the number of osteoclasts. However the mean bone‐
osteoclast interface was higher in the TRAP‐stained specimens (+ 30%, p< 0.02). As …
Quantification of osteoclast resorption, a good index of periodontitis destruction, is primarily based on osteoclast identification. As their identification is sometimes dubious, we compared osteoclastic counts in hamster specimens processed for either routine histology or tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. No difference was found between the two approaches concerning the number of osteoclasts. However the mean bone‐osteoclast interface was higher in the TRAP‐stained specimens (+ 30%, p<0.02). As osteoclast precursors are also TRAP+ cells, they were quantified too. Compared with controls, there was a dramatic increase (p < 0.0001) in periodontitis‐affected animals. Precursors were strongly correlated to active osteoclasts (r = 0.97). Our data suggest that precursors are recruited only when the disease is active in a given site.
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