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A histological study of the periodontium of a 68-year-old female subject demonstrates two fractures of the cement. The fracture more apically shows no inflammatory signs. The other one lies near the gingiva. Here we found signs of a chronic inflammation. Our observations confirm a great activity of the periodontal turnover in higher age groups too.

In this paper is described by histochemical, polarization optical and electron microscopical techniques resp. an up to now unknown protein structure in the basal plasmoditrophoblast of the human placenta. This structure consists of noncollagenic filaments containing cystin or cystein. They are arranged in the plain in the form of a network and parallel to the surface of the chorionic villi. They occur in connection with Langhans cells, they regularly existed in young placentas, where they completely surround the chorionic villi, and they occur in the villi of termborn placentas only incomplete in parts of the plasmoditrophoblast. Differences of the molecular structure of the network of protein filaments, which are depended on the age, are not demonstrable.

The influence of artificial unilateral occlusal disturbances on the structure of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyle cartilage was investigated by an experimental study using the miniature pig "MINI-LEWE". After a burden over 20 weeks the side exposed to occlusal disturbance (right TMJ) turned out to have unchanged histological proportions in comparison with control animals. The condyles of the side with pressure loading (left TMJ) exhibited but a changed histological picture. Cartilage resorptions as well as accumulations of large blown chondrocytes indicate an increased tissue reaction within the chondroblastic layer near spongiosa. The morphometric investigations confirm these results. A significant increase was observed in cell density within the chondroblastic layer of the most superior point of the left condylus due to the permanent disturbance of the normal masticatory function.

In order to elucidate a possible relationship between (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase and intestinal absorption of actively transported monosaccharides enzyme activity was measured in mucosal cells from alloxan diabetic rats. The general effect of increasing capacity of active, Na+-dependent transport processes in diabetes mellitus is associated with a significantly enhanced (Na+ +K+)-activated ATPase activity in mucosal homogenate from diabetic animals. To study the localization of these effects within the cell we isolated purified brush borders and their substructures. To enable a comparison to be made between preparation procedures of diabetic and control animals the fractions were controlled by electronmicroscopy and by measuring the sucrase activity. In the purified brush border fraction of alloxan treated rats there was no significant increase in (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase activity. Based on these results we conclude that the (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase in the basolateral membranes was increased in alloxan diabetes, and it seems very likely that this enzyme is involved in the regulation of Na+-dependent transport processes.