Histochemical study of giant tubule content in dentin of unerupted cow incisors

Incisal dentin of mandible cow incisors was studied by incident light. The material consisted of 12 intact permanent unerupted incisors from 2-yr-old cows removed immediately after bleeding. These specimens were kept in an isotonic EDTA-sucrose solution to be decalcified while maintaining vitality of cellular components. Three of the specimens were successfully dissected in a mesiodistal plane, exposing the giant tubule lumens and their content. By the use of NBT, a compound reduced by the dehydrogenase enzymes of the electron transport in the inner mitochondrial membrane, it was concluded that the giant tubules contained vital cells. The giant tubules were also shown to communicate with the incisal part of the pulp cavity by wide openings.