Immunocytochemical analysis of dentin: a double-labeling technique.

Immunocytochemical analysis is a fundamental and selective technique for identifying different molecular components of human dental structure. The hypothesis tested here is that the application of different etching solutions on dentin does not hinder collagen fibrils and proteoglycans from maintaining their immunochemical antigenicity. Human dentin disks were treated with 0.5M of EDTA, citric acid, maleic acid, or phosphoric acid (for 15 or 30 s). A double-immunolabeling technique was performed to identify, simultaneously, collagen fibrils and chondroitin sulfate. The use of different acids resulted in different degrees of labeling. Maleic and citric acids revealed a diffuse and intense labeling for both collagen fibrils and proteoglycans. The use of phosphoric acid on dentin showed a massive coagulation of the proteoglycans (15 s) or very low labeling (30 s). These data clarify that the use of acids on dentin components is able to modify their antigenicity. Moreover, the double-labeling immunocytochemical technique allows understanding of the spatial relationships between the collagen fibrils and proteoglycans of the dentin matrix.