Histological study on the origin of dentinal immunoglobulins and the change in their localization during caries

At the incipient stage of the caries process prior to destruction, immunoglobulins were first localized in the odontoblast layer in spite of absence of plasma cells in the pulp, and secondly located in the dentinal tubules of the pulpal side of dentin. When the tooth became involved, caries immunoglobulins were localized under the lesion. Bovine serum albumin, which was administered on tooth surfaces, was not observed in the non-decayed area of dentin. When injected into blood vessels, the protein was found in both decayed and unaffected dentin. It is suggested that, at the incipient stage of the caries process, dentinal immunoglobulins come from the pulp, although the possibility of salivary origin at a later stage is not excluded; and that immunoglobulin localization changes during the caries process.