Structures of connective tissue

Presented by :
Sushant Pandey (653)
BDS 2014

Resource Faculty:
Dr. Ashish Shrestha
Dr. Vinay Marla

Objectives :
To know about different cells, fibers and ground substances in Connective Tissue

Contents :

Types and function of CT

Cells of CT
Fibers of CT
Ground substance of CT

Connective Tissue
Epithelium
Epithelium

Connective Tissue

papilla

Connective Tisue
Muscle

Types of connective tissue:

I. Connective Tissue Proper
Loose connective tissue - e.g. lamina propia
Dense connective tissue e.g. dermis, organ capsules, ligament, tendon
II. Specialized Connective Tissue
Adipose tissue
Cartilage
Bone
Blood

Functions :
Architectural framework of the body
Bind together and provide mechanical support for other tissue
Wound repair / inflammatory response
Protection against infection
Storage of fat

Structures of connective tissue

Cells
Cells
Fibroblast
Fibroblast
Macrophage
Macrophage
Mastcell
cell
Mast
Plasmacell
cell
Plasma
Adipocytes
Adipocytes

Fibers
Fibers
Collagen
Collagen
Elastic
Elastic
Reticular
Reticular

Ground
Ground
substance
substance
Glycoaminogly
Glycoaminogly
cans
cans
Proteoglycans
Proteoglycans
Glycoproteins
Glycoproteins

Cells in Connective Tissue

Fixed
(permanent
residents)

Free
(transient
residents)

1.
2.
3.
4.

Fibroblasts
Adipose (fat) cells
Tissue Macrophages
Mast cells

5.
6.
7.

Lymphocytes
Plasma Cells
Leukocytes
(specifically, neutrophils, eosinophils, & basophils)

Fibroblast

Fibroblast
Origin = mesenchyme
Morphology:
Spindle shaped with multiple cytoplasmic processes
Large euchromatic nucleus with prominent nuclei
Function:
Synthesize and secrete collagen and elastin as well as the
GAGs and proteoglycans

Collagen
bundle

Fibroblast and Fibrocyte

Active

Quiescent

Myofibroblast
Have features of both fibroblast and smooth muscle cell.
Contain more actin and myosin.
Involved in wound healing

Adipocytes :

nucleus

Adipocytes :
Origin = mesenchyme
Morphology :
round with a large droplet of fat
nucleus is pushed against cell membrane and is flattened
Function :
storage of fat
cushion and insulate organs
secrete leptin

Macrophage (Histiocytes)

Macrophage (Histiocytes)
Origin : bone marrow
Morphology :
Oval cells with numerous folds and fingerlike
projections
Eccentrically located oval or kidney shaped nucleus
Kupffer cells in liver, microglia in CNS, osteoclasts in
bone tissue, Langerhans cells in epidermis
Function : phagocytosis, antigen presentation
may fuse to form multinuclear giant cell

Plasma cells :

White arrows = Golgi regions

Plasma cells :
Derived from b-lymphocytes
Morphology :
Large, ovoid with basophilic cytoplasm
Eccentrically placed nucleus
Nuclei contain compact peripheral regions of heterochromatin
alternating with lighter areas of euchromatin, that gives the nucleus
a cart wheel appearance
Next to nucleus, golgi apparatus occupy a region that may appear
pale
Function :
Antibody production

Mast Cells

Metachromasia when stained with

toluidine blue, the granules bind the
dye and change its colour to red.

Mast cell

Origin : bone marrow

Oval or irregular shaped
Cytoplasm filled with basophilic secretory granules
Secretions : heparin, histamine, cytokines

Responsible for the immediate hypersensitivity response

characteristic of allergies, asthma and anaphylactic shock.

Leukocytes

Neutrophils

Eosinophils

Lymphocytes

Fibers
Collage fibers
Reticular fibers
Elastic fibers

Collagen fibers :
Most abundant protein in human body.
Are extremely strong and resistant to normal shearing and tearing
force.
Imparts a unique combination of flexibility and strength to the
tissues.
Staining properties :
H/E = pink
Massons trichome = blue

Collagen fibers
viewed by TEM*

Alternating dark and white band

Due to gap and overlapping of tropocollagen

*TEM, transmission
electron microscopy

Collagen fibers viewed by light microscopy

H&E

Trichrome

Reticular Fibers
Form a delicate supporting
framework for highly cellular
tissues (endocrine glands, lymph
nodes, liver, bone marrow, spleen,
smooth muscle).
Forms network not bundles.
Composed mainly of Type III
collagen, with a carbohydrate
moiety that reduces Ag+ to
metallic sliver = argyrophilic.
Special stain: silver impregnation
to visualize.

Elastic Fibers
Form sparse network particularly in organs subjected to
much bending or stretching like arterial walls, interalveolar
septa, bronchi and bronchioles, vocal ligaments, bladder
Allows tissues to be stretched or distended and return to
original shape.
Structure = elastin core surrounded by fibrilin
Stains :
Stain poorly with H&E
Special stain = Weigerts, Aldehyde fuchsin stains used

Elastic and Collagen Fibers

Elastin stain (Weigerts, aldehyde fuchsin); elastic fibers

H&E stain: collagen stains pink; elastic fibers stain glassy red
are purple/black collagen fibers stain orange/pink
(generally only visible if in HIGH abundance)

Ground substance

Ground substance :
It is a highly hydrated, transparent, complex mixture of GAGs, proteoglycans
and multiadhesive glycoproteins.
It fills the space between cells and fibers in CT.
Responsible for exchange of substance through a CT.
Because it is viscous, acts as both a lubricant and a barrier to the penetration
of invaders.

Ground
Substance

Glycosaminoglycan (GAG)
Linear polymers
Heteropolysaccharides. repeating disaccharide units, (AB) n

Uronic acid

D-glucuronic acid
or
L-iduronic acid

Glycosamine

N-acetylglucosamine
Or
N-acetylgalactosamine

Glycosaminoglycan (GAG)
e.g. heparan sulfate, condroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate, hyaluronic
acid, dermatan sulfate
Very hydrophilic due to abundant negative charges (e.g. SO4- groups).
Plays important role in allowing diffusion of molecules in CT and in
lubricating joints and organs.

Proteoglycans
A core protein

covalently
attached GAG

Provides hydration and swelling pressure to the

tissue enabling it to withstand compressional
forces
e.g. Aggrecan

Multiadhesive glycoproteins
oligosaccharide

protein

Form receptors on cell surfaces

Provide strength and support to matrix
Eg: fibronectin and laminin
Fibronectin has binding sites for collagen and certain GAGs, and forms
insoluble fibrillar network throughout CT.
Laminin is concentrated in basal lamina and provides adhesion for
epithelium

THANK YOU !!
Lets revise

REFERENCES :
Junqueiras basic histology, 13th edition
Wheater's Functional Histology, 6th edition

QUESTIONS ??