Type III collagen is a major component of interodontoblastic fibers of the developing mouse molar root.
BACKGROUND
Recently, collagenous interodontoblastic fibers (IOF) were reported in some particular developmental stages and/or locations of the tooth. However, it remained unclear whether these fibers were identical to so-called von Korff fibers.


METHODS
To clarify this issue, we examined the developing mouse molar by three-dimensional reconstruction of 8 confocal images within a 6 micron-thick section using laser scanning confocal microscopy, and confirmed our findings using immunoelectron microscopy.


RESULTS
In the root pulp during circumpulpal dentin formation, the IOF stained weakly for type I collagen, but stained strongly for type III collagen by a double-staining technique. It could be clearly seen that many immunoreactive fibers ran spirally among the odontoblasts and entered the predentin. This distribution pattern of IOF was similar to that of the classical von Korff fibers. Furthermore, the existence of anti-type III reactive collagen fibrils between odontoblasts was confirmed, whereas IOF were not observed in the coronal pulp during circumpulpal dentin formation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study presents for the first time, immunohistochemical observations which demonstrate the presence of IOF at least during root circumpulpal dentin formation and which reveal that type III collagen is a major component of IOF.
Ohsaki
Y
Y
Second Department of Oral Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Nagata
K
K
D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000737:chemistry; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry; D003810:Dentinogenesis; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008963:Molar / Q000254:growth & development; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure
D003094:Collagen