Forensic Dentistry has highlighted a pressing need for a better and more precise ageing technique in the identification of adult human remains. This Thesis is a fundamental study of apical third odontoblasts and adjacent dentine [the pulpo-dentinal complex] in vital, disease-free human teeth of various ages using similar carnivore teeth as an animal model. The role of intratubular dentine (ITD) in the ageing of tubular dentine has been questioned. The nature of the organic matrix, authoritatively believed to be non-collagenous and providing the network for apatite mineralisation, offered a vehicle which may involve a component that could act as a marker for ITD development with age. A non-collagenous protein manufactured in the liver, Alpha2HSglycoprotein (α2HS), which was thought to implicate the odontoblasts in its transmission to the dentinal tubule and known to be a part of hard tissue mineralisation, was investigated by immunohistochemical means. Previous monoclonal antibodies could not be reproduced therefore a new immunohistochemical protocol based on polyclonal antibodies was devised. Positive and negative controls were used. The extent of α2HS was quantitatively assessed by a modified Image Pro-plus Programme: SPSS used for data analysis. Correlation of ITD with age using α2HS is discussed together with the involvement of the protein in 'occlusive material' and amorphous pulpal dentine. The age changes in the apical third of the root of vital, disease-free, single-rooted teeth whilst occurring as age advanced may be less obviously correlated to age than previously thought. The use of the extent of ITD as an age determinant was considered not to be proven. The use of the carnivore model was effective and reliable.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:636064 |
| Date | January 2000 |
| Creators | Beard, D. G. |
| Publisher | Swansea University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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