Possible role of cementoblasts in the resorbant organ of human deciduous teeth during root resorption

Human deciduous teeth undergoing physiologic root resorption were extracted and fixed with a mixture of formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde and processed for scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, and for acid (ACPase) and alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) cytochemistry. The resorbant organ, rich in odontoclasts, cementoblasts, fibroblasts, and macrophages, formed prominent resorption lacunae in root dentin. SEM observations of resorption lacunae treated with trypsin solution showed islands of newly-formed cementum matrix in part of the resorbing dentin surfaces. Such cementum consisted of bundles of densely-arranged collagen fibrils and, in part, contained forming cementocytic lacunae and canaliculi. Active cementoblasts adjacent to odontoclasts on resorbing dentin surfaces showed cuboidal outlines and were characterized by the presence of numerous cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum, well-developed Golgi complexes, secretion granules, and many mitochondria. They sometimes formed a thin layer of cementoid and/or cementum matrix upon the resorbing dentin surface. These cementoblasts had ACPase-positive lysosomes in the cell bodies and exhibited intense ALPase activity along the plasma membranes of whole cell surfaces. These results suggest that, during root resorption, 1) active cementoblasts are present adjacent to active odontoclasts and 2) these cementoblasts are involved in remodeling the resorbing dentin surfaces.