The development and structure of principal fibers and cellular cementum in rat molars.

The principal fibers and cellular cementum were examined in various developmental stages in rat molars by light and electron microscopy, and their development and structure were studied. The principal fibers increased in thickness with root development. At any given stage, the principal fibers consisted of small fiber bundles on the cementum surface and showed a branching structure. Sharpey's fibers also showed a similar branching structure and increased in thickness, as traced superficially in the cementum. It was suggested that the principal fibers increased in thickness by means of the aggregation of fiber bundles. The development of cellular cementum was divided into two (early and late) phases on the basis of the fiber arrangement. The early cementum was believed to contain a few Sharpey's fibers and many randomly arranged intrinsic fibers. The late cementum contained thicker Sharpey's fibers with branches and the intrinsic fibers which appeared to encircle Sharpey's fibers and/or meander among them.