[Attrition, dentin apposition and protein synthesis in the pulp and desmodont of young and old rats]

Occlusal attrition and responsive adaptations in the pulp-dentinal unit are still problematic. In this study, up to 2 years-old rats were used to measure the amount of occlusal attrition, of dentin apposition and of the incorporation of 3H-proline into the pulpal and periodontal ligament tissues. Two to four SIV-rats each, 45, 365 and 730 days of age, were once injected with 3H-proline 2 hours or 5 days prior to exitus. After cardiac perfusion, the molar blocks of both jaws were decalcified in EDTA and divided into bucco-oral and mesio-distal slices. The latter were embedded in Epon. Semithin sections served to measure the amount of attrition and of tertiary dentin apposition, as well as for autoradiographic labelling and determination of the rate of dentin apposition and proline incorporation in pulpal and periodontal ligament tissues. The results show that (1) the molar cusps lost up to 40% of their initial height during the two years of life, (2) occlusal dentin apposition in the intercuspal region led to an increase in dentinal thickness by 50 to 70%, while in the pulp horn region dentinal apposition occurred early in life and later did not keep phase with attrition, and (3) protein synthesis in pulp and periodontal ligament essentially did not change within the two years of life. These findings are related to that of other authors and discussed in connection with dentinal innervation.