This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Weber, D.F. Articles by Zaki, A.E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Weber, D.F. Articles by Zaki, A.E. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy of Tubular Structures Presumed to be Human Odontoblast Processes

University of Illinois, College of Dentistry, Department of Histology, 801 S. Paulina Street, Chicago, Illinois 60680

A.E. Zaki

University of Illinois, College of Dentistry, Department of Histology, 801 S. Paulina Street, Chicago, Illinois 60680

Tubular structures interpreted as being odontoblast processes can be observed with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) on fractured dentin surfaces which have been demineralized and treated with collagenase. To confirm the nature of these structures, SEM preparations exhibiting similar tubular structures were subsequently examined with the transmission electron microscope (TEM). Newly-erupted human third molars were fractured buccolingually with heavy-gauge industrial nippers or sectioned mesiodistally with a Leitz saw microtome and fixed in glutaraldehyde. The exposed dentin surfaces were decalcified to a depth of approximately 500 µm and then treated with bacterial collagenase. Half of the specimens were critical-point-dried and coated for SEM. The other half were post-fixed and processed for TEM. After examination by SEM, the specimens were embedded and thin-sectioned for TEM. SEM observations of both the fractured and cut surfaces of dentin showed tubular structures running from the surface of the pulp to the dentino-enamel junction. When the SEM preparations were examined with TEM, the tubular structures were seen to be the inner sheath of the peritubular matrix, not odontoblast processes. In the specimens directly processed for TEM, the structures lying inside the sheath could be visualized clearly. In the outer two-thirds of the dentin, the tubules were essentially empty. Well-defined odontoblast processes were seen lying inside the sheath only in the inner dentin,

REFERENCES

• Frank R.M. (1966): Etude au Microscope Electronique de l'O-dontoblaste et du Canalicule Dentaire Humain, Arch Oral Biol 11:179-191.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Garant, P.R. (1972): The Organization of Microtubules within Rat Odontoblast Processes Revealed by Perfusion Fixation with Glutaraldehyde, Arch Oral Biol 17:1047-1058,[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Gaynor, M.K., Weber, D.F.; and Everingham, J. (1984): A Different Approach to Immersion Fixation of Human Dental Pulp and Odontoblastic Processes, Arch Oral Biol 29:243-247.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Gunji, T. and Kobayashi, S. (1983): Distribution and Organization of Odontoblast Processes in Human Dentine, Arch Histol Jpn 46:213-219,[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Holland, G.R. (1976): The Extent of the Odontoblast Process in the Cat, J Anat 121:133-149,[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Kelley, K.W.: Bergenholtz, G. and Cox, C.F. (1981): The Extent of the Odontoblast Process in Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatto) as Observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Arch Oral Biol 26:893-897.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• La Fleche, R.G.; Frank, R.M.; and Steuer, P. (1985): The Extent of the Human Odontoblast Process as Determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy: The Hypothesis of a Retractable Suspensor System, J Biol Buccale 13:293-305.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Maniatopoulos, C. and SmithD.C. (1983): A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of the Odontoblast Process in Human Coronal Dentine, Arch Oral Biol 28:701-710.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Sigal, M.J.; Aubin, J.E.; Ten Cate A.R.; and Pitaru, S. (1984a): The Odontoblast Process Extends to the Dentinoenamel Junction: An Immuno-cytochemical Study of Rat Dentine, J Histochem Cytochem 32:872-877.[Abstract]
• Sigal, J.J.; Pitaru, S.; Aubin, J.E.; and Ten Cate, A.R. (1984b): A Combined Scanning Electron Microscopy and Immunofluorescence Study Demonstrating that the Odontoblastic Process Extends to the Dentinoenamel Junction in Human Teeth, Anat Rec 210:453-462.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Sigal. M.J.; Aubin, J.E.; and Ten Cate, A.R. (1985): An Immunocytochemical Study of the Human Odontoblast Process using Antibodies against Tubulin, Actin, and Vimentin, J Dent Res 64:1348-1355.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Thomas, H.F. (1979): The Extent of the Odontoblast Process in Human Dentine, J Dent Res 58(D): 2207-2218.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Thomas, H.F. (1983): The Effect of Various Fixatives on the Extent of the Odontoblast Process in Human Dentin, Arch Oral Biol 28:465-469.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Thomas, H.F. (1984): The Lamina Limitans of Human Dentinal Tubules, J Dent Res 63:1064-1066.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Thomas, H.F. and Carella P. (1984): Correlation of Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy of Human Dentinal Tubules, Arch Oral Biol 29:641-646.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Tsatsas, B.G. and Frank, R.M. (1972): Ultrastructure of the Dentinal Tubular Substances near the Dentino-enamel Junction, Calcified Tiss 9:238.
• Weber, D.F.: Eisenmann, D.R.; and Zaki, A.E. (1982): A Grinding Method for Producing Sections of Large Areas of Plastic Embedded Tissues, J Microscopy 127:271-276.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Yamada, T.K.; Nakamura, M.: and Fusayama, T. (1983): The Extent of the Odontoblast Process in Normal and Carious Human Dentin, J Dent Res 62:798-802.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 65, No. 7, 982-986 (1986)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345860650071701


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. E. MURRAY, I. ABOUT, P. J. LUMLEY, G. SMITH, J. C. FRANQUIN, and A. J. SMITH POSTOPERATIVE PULPAL AND REPAIR RESPONSES J Am Dent Assoc, March 1, 2000; 131(3): 321 - 329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D.H. Pashley Dynamics of the Pulpo-Dentin Complex Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, January 1, 1996; 7(2): 104 - 133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F.R. Tay, A. Gwinnett, K.M. Pang, and S.H.Y. Wei Structural Evidence of a Sealed Tissue Interface with a Total-etch Wet-bonding Technique in vivo Journal of Dental Research, March 1, 1994; 73(3): 629 - 636. [Abstract] [PDF]

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Weber, D.F. Articles by Zaki, A.E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Weber, D.F. Articles by Zaki, A.E. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?