Dentin powders from bovine incisors were treated with 10% NaClO solution. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) indicated the removal of organic material from the dentin sample following the treatment, since the exothermic reaction at 320 degrees C had disappeared. X-ray diffraction studies revealed a change in the crystallinity of the dentin crystals and the formation of calcite after the treatment. Infrared absorption analysis showed that the band due to carbonate ions was weakened after the treatment, while atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis showed that magnesium ions had been dissolved from the dentin sample. The a-axis lengths of treated and heated dentin samples differed from those of untreated and heated samples. Whitlockite was always found in the untreated/heated samples, whereas it was absent in the treated/heated samples. The unit cell dimensions of the whitlockite indicated the partial substitution of magnesium for calcium. Magnesium ions seemed to be more effective than carbonate ions in forming whitlockite. These results showed that some magnesium and carbonate ions were removed from the dentin crystal structure upon NaClO treatment, while at the same time organic materials were removed from the dentin sample. It was suggested that crystals in the NaClO-treated dentin were similar to enamel crystals from a crystallographic viewpoint.

Malassez epithelium has been designated as epithelial cell rests, the biological significance of which is still under debate. This study was designed to analyze Malassez epithelium for the presence of neuroendocrine cells. Gingival tissue was included as a positive control. Using immunohistochemistry, confocal and light microscopy, Malassez epithelium and gingival epithelium from mature cats (n = 5) were examined for cells containing the neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Both Malassez epithelium and the basal epithelial cell layers in gingival rete pegs regularly displayed cells immunoreactive to CGRP, SP, and VIP. The immunopositive cells were most frequently present in the epithelial cell clusters and strands of Malassez located in the cervical half of thc periodontal ligament. Double immunolabeling revealed cellular co-expression of CGRP or SP with VIP, and the neuropeptides were co-localized in the cellular compartments. Labeled cells in both epithelia were occasionally supported by immunoreactive nerve fibers. This study shows that cells immunoreactive to CGRP, SP, and VIP arc located within the cat Malassez epithelium. The localization of neuroendocrine cells verifies the diversity of this epithelium and confirms that Malassez epithelium is composed of different cell types, in common with epithelia from other locations. The presence of neuroendocrine cells in Malassez epithelium strongly suggests biological functions of this tissue, and the neuropeptide content may thus indicate endocrine functions of the cells.

belt-like zones, corresponding to the parazone or the diazone of the Hunter-Schreger bands.Reversed images of scanning electron-micrographs of the exposed surfaces of the developing enamel revealed round and bulb-like profiles of Tomes' processes at early amelogenesis and its changes into a characteristic structure combined with flat secretory and enclosing nonsecretory faces that dictated the orientation of corresponding enamel prisms.The results suggest that the groups of enamel prisms oriented in sideward directions first appear as small island-like specks near the enamel-dentin junction, which later merge and form alternating horizontal belt-like zones as a consequence of morphological changes of the Tomes' processes. However, the mechanisms whereby the functional grouping of secretory ameloblasts with similarly oriented Tomes' processes is induced are yet to be determined.

The cellular heterogeneity of Malassez epithelium (ME) residing in the periodontal ligament has recently been reported, and the presence and coexistence of the neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in single cells in ME has been shown (1). However, the identity of these neuroendocrine cells has so far not been verified. This study was undertaken in order to elucidate the identity of the neuroendocrine cells in ME by means of transmission electron microscopy, confocal scanning microscopy and immunohistochemistry using antibodies to protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 and cytokeratin 20 (CK). Gingival tissue was included in the study as a positive control for identification of Merkel-like cells in oral epithelium. CK 20 immunopositive cells were present in both Malassez epithelium and in basal cell layers of gingival epithelium showing a distribution consistent with PGP 9.5 labelled cells in both epithelia. The results from PGP 9.5 immuno electron microscopy clearly evidenced the presence of single, intensely labelled cells and some nerve fibres invested between the Malassez epithelial cells. The conformity of the immunopositive cells in Malassez and gingival epithelium verified by double immunolabelling with PGP 9.5 and CK 20, indicates that the labelled neuroendocrine cells are identical in ME and in gingival epithelium. This demonstrates that Malassez epithelium not only exhibits neuroendocrine cells, but additionally that the neuroendocrine cells represent Merkel-like cells.

The present study was designed to characterize the morphology and composition of calco pherites in the coronal and root predentin of human permanent teeth by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Human inci ors. premolar ·. and molars were used. The ca lcospherites in the coronal predentin were globular and I 0 20 {Lm in diameter. The ca lcospherite · in the root predentin were smaller and their shape was different. Polygonal calcospherites and stellate calcospherites were observed in the intermediate region of the root predentin. alcospherites were rarely present in the apical region of the root predentin . alcified matrix fibers were observed in the apica l region of the root predentin. The Ca P molar ratio in crown ca lcospherites ( 1.63 ± 0.27) differed significantly from that in root calcospherites ( 1.46 ±0.28 ). Sulfur was detected from the cervical region to the root region, but not in the horn region. Odontoblast activity and the loc