title: Micrometric measurement of the density of stained odontoblast processes.
abstract: The embryological, structural and functional unit of the dentine-pulp complex shares the odontoblast, located in the border of the dentine pulp, with basal nuclei and organelles. The odontoblast process emerges from its apical pole. It is formed by microtubules, microfilaments and vesicles covered by membranes penetrating the dentinal tubules, isolated from the inter-tubular matrix, along the extent of the dentine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of three staining techniques: hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-Schiff and Schmorl, by staining the process, from beginning to end, and compare the results with the erosion technique. Thirty human teeth were employed in the trial; after their extraction the pulp was fixated, the pieces demineralized in nitric acid at 8%, the collagen filaments eliminated with Type II Collagenase, the tissue was stained, and the measurements were made. The portions with no pulp were prepared with the erosion technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing the best results obtained by staining with the values obtained with the erosion technique, the former showed lower values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Staining techniques show lower density of the staining processes compared with the dentinal tubules in the erosion technique.
authors: Histology and Embryology Department, School of Dentistry, National University of Rosario, Argentina. aliciakohli2009@hotmail.com
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Kohli
authors: Stella M
authors: SM
authors: Pezzotto
authors: Graciela
authors: G
authors: Garcia
authors: Leonor C
authors: LC
authors: Poletto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014070:Tooth / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents