Wick, PA; Shahin, R; Lang, NP; Bosshardt, DD (2006). Immunodetection of bone-related proteins in microcalcifications of human dental pulp. In: Pan European Federation of IADR (PEF 2006). Dublin, Ireland. September 13-16, 2006.
Objective: Root canal obliterations may pose esthetic and clinical problems or may even be a risk factor for tooth survival. Microcalcifications in the pulp can be so extensive that the entire root canal system becomes obliterated. Since bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteopontin (OPN) are involved in both physiological and pathological mineralization processes, our hypothesis was that these two bone-related noncollagenous proteins are present in microcalcifications of the pulp. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to characterize the nature of microcalcifications in the pulp of aged human teeth. Methods: From a large collection of human teeth, 10 were found to exhibit pulpal microcalcifications. The teeth were extracted for periodontal reasons from 39-60 year old patients. After fixation in aldehydes and decalcification, teeth were processed for embedding in LR White resin for analysis in the light and transmission electron microscope. For the detection of BSP and OPN, post-embedding high resolution immunocytochemistry was applied. Results: The microcalcifications were round or elongated, occasionally coalescing, and intensely stained with toluidine blue. Collagen fibrils were found in most but not all microcalcifications. All microcalcifications were immunoreactive for both antibodies and showed an identical labeling pattern. Gold particle labeling was extensively found throughout the interfibrillar ground substance of the microcalcifications, whereas the dentin matrix lacked immunolabeling. Conclusion: BSP and OPN appear to be major matrix constituents of pulp microcalcifications and may thus, like in other mineralized tissues, be involved in their mineralization process.
Item Type: |
Conference or Workshop Item (Abstract) |
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Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > School of Dental Medicine > Department of Periodontology 04 Faculty of Medicine > School of Dental Medicine > Department of Oral Surgery and Stomatology |
UniBE Contributor: |
Lang, Niklaus Peter, Bosshardt, Dieter |
Submitter: |
Eveline Carmen Schuler |
Date Deposited: |
04 Oct 2013 14:52 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 14:16 |
Additional Information: |
Abstract Nr. 439 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/21933 (FactScience: 19623) |
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