Cultivation of periodontal ligament fibroblasts on extracted monkey incisor. A histologic study of three culturing methods.

Forty-two permanent incisors were extracted from green vervet monkeys and cultivated in Eagle's medium at 37 degrees C using the following culture methods: 1. teeth placed at the bottom of the culture flask; 2. teeth placed in an upright position in the culture flask and supported by an open glass cylinder; 3. teeth placed in an upright position in the culture flask and supported by a semisolid tissue culture medium. The teeth were cultured from 1 to 21 days and then examined histologically and periodontal changes registered histometrically. After 2 days, most of the periodontal membrane showed signs of extensive cell necrosis. After 3 days the first signs of proliferation of cells were seen either as clusters around existing vessels or as a surface layer on the periodontal membrane. After 7 days an almost complete over of connective tissue cells had formed on the root surface. This layer had formed on periodontal ligament with cell necrosis as well as on areas with preserved vitality of the periodontal cells. Areas on the root surface without periodontal ligaments were also covered with a cell layer. No significant change took place within the periodontal membrane with extended culture periods (2 and 3 weeks). Better results were achieved using liquid medium as compared with semisolid medium.