Chloro-s-triazines as markers and fixatives for the study of growth in teeth and bones.

Abstract

AbstractCyanuric chloride (2,4,6‐trichloro‐s‐triazine) and dichloro‐s‐triazinyl Procion M (Imperial Chemical) dyes and colorless compounds covalently bond or covalently cross‐link with H‐active functional groups in tissues including enamel, dentin, and bone. By cross‐linking, chloro‐s‐triazines make irreversibly insoluble in situ various exogenous or endogenous components, which are lost or artifactually diffused by other methods of fixation. Cyanuric chloride (0.5%) and N‐methyl morpholine (1%) in anhydrous methanol provide an excellent cytologic fixative, with N‐methyl morpholine or other suitable tertiary amines serving as “quaternizing” catalysts and HCl acceptors.Highly permeable Procion M dyes were used topically as freshly prepared 5–10% aqueous solutions; 2% solutions in 5% dextrose were also given intravenously at a dosage level of 200 mgm/Kgm. Since topically applied dyes stain irreversibly, they can be employed as markers for the study of various pathophysiologic processes associated with the tooth and periodontal apparatus; that is, for the study of growth and development. Given intravenously, these dyes permanently mark incremental lines and zones of growth in tooth and bone; the markers persist during processing and decalcification of the specimens. Vinyl‐sulfonyl Remazol (American Hoechst) and other, classes of reactive dyes were also used as permanent markers.