Journal of Dental Research, Vol 67, 870-875, Copyright © 1988 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals

ARTICLES

Aspiration and characterization of predentin fluid in developing rat teeth by means of a micropuncture and micro-analytical technique

P. A. Larsson, D. S. Howell, J. C. Pita and L. N. Blanco
Department of Oral Pathology, University of Lund School of Dentistry, Malmo, Sweden.

A fluid phase was aspirated in vivo and in vitro from predentin or pulp of developing rat teeth by means of a micropuncture technique. Pooled aspirates (approx. 2 nL) were analyzed for P, Na, K, Ca, Mg, and S by electron probe microtechniques (Lechene and Warner, 1979). Compared with pulp fluid, currently and previously studied cartilage fluids, as well as serum, predentin fluid showed elevated K, depressed Na, Cl, and Ca, as well as increased P. Statistical analysis was possible for only a few groups of comparisons among the elemental profiles. Ultrastructural examination of the aspiration site and of the aspirates showed no evidence of contamination with cell organelles or other formed elements. The micropuncture technique used was a critically precise and laborious procedure; possible contamination with intracellular fluid could not be avoided. The consistently low Mg concentration found in the aspirates, however, supports our view that the samples were primarily extracellular.

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