Abstract
Collagen metabolism was studied biochemically in the odontoblast-predentine region and in the coronal pulp. These was more protein in the odontoblast-predentine area beneath early dentine caries than in intact teeth, but no significant difference in collagen content. The percentage ratios of collagen to total protein ranged from 62 to 81. DNA content of the pulp below advanced caries was higher than pulp elsewhere whereas no difference in the soluble protein content was observed compared with that for the normal pulp. The prolyl hydroxylase activity (EC 1.14.11.2) expressed as disintegrations/per min and per mg protein was not different between altered and normal states. However, when enzyme activity was expressed per mg DNA, values were lower for advanced caries. Assuming that the enzyme differences in vitro represent the collagen metabolism in the coronal pulp in vivo it can be concluded that they depend on the number of affected dentinal tubules and the degree of associated odontoblast injury.
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