Conservation of tissue specifically after heterotopic transplantation of gingiva and alveolar mucosa

In eight monkeys separate tissue flaps of the buccal gingiva and alveolar mucosa adjacent to premolar teeth were transposed. In addition, free palatal grafts were transplanted to the anterior maxillary and mandihular alveolar mucosa. The grafting and the sacrifice of the animals were timed to yield observation periods of 5 and 14 days, 1–8, 10 and 12 months. Serial sections were obtained from the grafted and control tissues. After 2 months the grafted tissues displayed clinical features which were identical to those of the respective donor tissues. This appearance did not change throughout the experimental period. Tissue characteristics such as the distribution of collugenous, elastic and silver‐stained fibers, the absence or presence of a keratin layer and localization of PAS‐positive material in the epithelium were maintained. The tissue specificities of the gingival, alveolar and palatal mucosa were conserved after heterotopic transplantation. Thus, the clinical and structural features of these tissues are genetically rather than functionally determined. It is suggested that grafting of keratinized tissues is a better method for predetermining the postsurgical width of gingiva than the methods of mucogingival surgery ordinarily used.