Abstract
Togue mucosa surface of 3-day postnatal rats was examined under transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). For HRSEM analysis, the specimens were fixed in the same solution for 24 h, postfixed in 2% osmiun tetroxide, critical-point dried and coated with platinum-palladium. For TEM analysis, the specimens were fixed using modified Karnovsky solution and embedded in Spurr resin. The results revealed the presence of numerous microplicae in the membrane surface of keratinized epithelial cells to which groups of bacteria were attached. These bacteria were staphylococcus and coccus organized either in rows or at random, which were visualized in three-dimensional HRSEM images. At high magnification, the TEM images revealed the adhesion of bacteria to the cell membrane through numerous filamentous structures comprising the glycocalyx. The fine fibrillar structures rising from each bacterium and from cell membrane were clearly seen. These characteristics on bacteria structure may be used for future control or prevention of bacterial diseases and for installation of the oral native flora.
Highlights
The oral cavity is one of the regular sites for bacterial adhesion, even before tooth eruption when the number of sites for colonization increases significantly
The samples of 3-day postnatal rat tongue mucosa examined under high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) showed the presence of numerous microplicae on epithelial cell membrane surface (Fig. 1A)
The staphylococci are attached to the epithelial cell membrane showing the several rows and the small particles in three-dimensional HRSEM images (Fig. C)
Summary
The oral cavity is one of the regular sites for bacterial adhesion, even before tooth eruption when the number of sites for colonization increases significantly. The mucosal surfaces are the only available areas for colonization and the epithelial cells of oral mucosa have been reported by several authors [1,2,3,4] using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Bacterial adhesion to the cell membrane has been extensively reported [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. This study demonstrates the presence of groups of bacteria adhered to epithelial cell membranes of tongue Oral epithelial cells may play an important role in host immune response towards infection because the epithelial cell membrane ingrowths to engulf the bacteria forming a phagocytic cup and internalizing the bacteria [12].
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