Lipid Determination in Powdered Human Dentin by Thin-Layer and Gas-Liquid Chromatography

¹ Radioisotope and Dental Services, Veterans Administration Hospital; Division of Biochemistry, Center for Oral Health Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and Eastern Utilization Research Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A new method is described for the extraction of dentin lipids and preparation of the sample. Thin-layer chromatography was used to separate the lipids into six fractions. The chain length and saturation composition of all fatty acids found in dentin was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Analytical data indicated that these methods and operations caused a minimum of 27 to 30 percent hydrolysis of the original esters. If these induced errors are taken into consideration, the results obtained indicate that the lipid composition of dentin is similar to the lipid composition found in most human tissues.