Radiochemical determination of the metabolic activity of collagen in mature dentin

Tritiated proline was administered to domestic cats during the development of their permanent premolars. The metabolic activity of collagen in the mature premolar dentin was determined by quantitating the amount of tritiated hydroxyproline in the dentin as a function of time. It has been demonstrated that the metabolic activity of the dentinal collagen was extremely low and remained within the experimental error for a period of 45 weeks.