Based on recent literature, the dynamics of mesenchymal cells in transplantation of various tissues and matrices, as well as the origin of new odontoblasts which participate in the formation of the dentin bridge, are described. Experiments involving implantation of pulp, periosteum, perichondrium, treated dentin, and bone matrices were performed to emphasize the capability of these cells to produce hard tissue. Light and electron microscopic and autoradiographic studies were carried out to clarify the origin of replacement odontoblasts. It appears that the pulp cells, endothelial cells, and pericytes become undifferentiated mesenchymal cells following pulp exposure. These mesenchymal cells differentiate into odontoblasts, which subsequently produce a dentin matrix. Pulp tissues autografted to non-pulpal sites, elaborated bone (or osteodentin) matrix, but they did not graft to tubular dentin. An experiment on dentin bridge formation, using germ-free rats, demonstrated that the pulp tissue has intrinsic healing potential. Therefore, it was concluded that the ability of pulp tissue to elaborate hard tissues depends on its environment.

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Kimura's disease, eosinophilic granuloma of soft tissues, is a chronic inflammatory condition and appears as subcutaneous tumor‐like nodules in the head and neck regions. Histopathologically, it is characterized by the presence of lymphoid follicles, marked infiltration of eosinophils, fibrosis and vascular proliferation. This disease occurring in the orofacial region is relatively rare, only 14 cases having been previously reported. We describe 3 additional cases of Kimura's disease and discuss these in relation to angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia.

The morphology and distribution of intercellular junctions were studied in the clinically normal junctional epithelium of dogs by freeze‐fracture and thin sectioning. Desmosomes were found in cells of the coronal and apical regions of the junctional epithelium. The occurrence values for desmosomes were low in comparison with those of other oral epithelia. Gap junctions were also observed in cells of the junctional epithelium, often in association with desmosomes. These were usually small, their diameter varying between 0.2 and 0.7 μm. Relatively large ones were found in the cells of the coronal region. Tight junctions were observed only in the intermediate cells of the coronal region, forming small, discrete maculae occludentes. Numerous dense PTA‐positive granules were observed in the peripheral cytoplasm of the intermediate and superficial cells. In freeze‐fracture replicas, hemispherical structures were also observed at the periphery of the cytoplasm. Because of similarities in their size and location, the hemispherical structures probably correspond to the dense granules. Freeze‐fracture images such as elevated membranes seem to reveal exocytosis. The hypothesis is put forward that the dense granules are related to the physiological permeability barrier in the junctional epithelium. However, it is doubtful that the epithelium provides a complete barrier function because of the vast extent of the intercellular spaces and the sparseness of desmosomes.