A Histologic and Histochemical Study of Lipids in Human Odontoblasts

¹ The Ruth M. Stewart Memorial Research Laboratory, Good Samaritan Hospital, West Palm Beach, Florida

The exact composition of various granules observed in the cytoplasm and peripheral dentinal extensions of odontoblasts has not been determined by any of the methods reported in this paper. It is apparent, however, that these granules are complex substances containing preponderantly lipids and probably small amounts of mucopoly-saccharides. The fact that a relatively wide range of lipid stains demonstrate the granules consistently suggests that methods of tissue preparation for the study of the pathologic morphology of teeth should include specific techniques for demonstrating lipids.