Gingival epithelial overgrowth in Renal transplant

Abstract

In the past decade cyclosporine (CsA) has reached wide acceptance in therapy for patients undergoing organ transplant. CsA selectively inhibits T cell function while having a minimal effect on humoral immunity. As with drugs which modulate host responses, sequelae such as gingival overgrowth, are common. Different studies have emphasized the cell biology of fibroblast and immune system cells in gingival connective tissue, but few have approached the gingival epithelium with TEM and SEM. This latter procedure not only gives us pictures of the most supercial layer but also produces three-dimensional images of extensive areas of the gingival mocosa.Specimens of overgrown and healthy tissue obtained during gingivectomy were fixed for TEM in 2.5% cacodylate buffered glutaraldehyde. Postfixation with 1% osmium tetroxide and embedding in Spurr's resin followed. Sections were contrasted with lead citrate and uranyl acetate and examined in a Zeiss EM10C. For SEM specimens after identical fixation, were dehydrated, critical-point dried. Gold sputtercoated and observed in a Philips SEM 505.