Histological, histochemical and ultrastructural studies on the nature of hyalin bodies in odontogenic cysts

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Hyalin bodies, present in a proportion of 427 jaw cysts, were examined by histological, histochemical and electron microscopical methods. Their overall prevalence in odontogenic cysts was 11 % and all the bodies were confined to the cyst epithelium. The histochemical results were generally in agreement with existing reports of reactions in both hyalin bodies and dental cuticle. An ultrastructural examination of 10 specimens revealed a close relationship of epithelial cells to at least one surface of each body, an attachment being mediated by hemidesmosomes and a basal lamina. The circular bodies surrounded so‐called “granular material” which appeared to be composed of degenerating cellular debris and which was sometimes calcified. Curved, elongate bodies bordered cholesterol clefts in the epithelium or showed evidence of having done so at an early stage in their formation. Existing concepts which attribute the origin of hyalin bodies to thrombosed blood vessels or to keratinizing epithelium are refuted, mainly on ultrastructural grounds. It is proposed that hyalin bodies are a secretion from odontogenic epithelium stimulated by cholesterol or cellular debris.