Lipid analysis of rat enamel and dentine

Abstract

Lipids extracted from dentine and enamel of rat incisors and molars were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed before and after decalcification. Qualitative lipid analyses of the two tissues were very similar. Approximately 60 per cent of the lipid present could be extracted from the original tissue, the remainder only being extracted after decalcification. Acidic phospholipids could only be extracted from decalcified tissue, except cardiolipin which could be extracted from calcified dentine. Expressed as percentages of the matrix, enamel matrix contained 20 times more lipid than dentine matrix though whole enamel contained only 40 per cent more lipid than whole dentine.