Demineralization of dentin with EDTA in organic solvent: immunofluorescence of collagen in osteogenesis imperfecta and normal teeth.

The immunofluorescence of dentin collagen(s) after demineralization with ethanolic trimethylammonium ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EtOH-TMA-EDTA) was studied using normal deciduous teeth, and deciduous and permanent teeth from three patients with Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Sections of the demineralized teeth were immunostained with anti type I, III and IV collagen sera. Preservation of the antigenicity of the collagens after treatment with EtOH-TMA-EDTA was confirmed by staining of the soft tissue controls. Anti type I collagen sera stained the normal dentin matrix peritubularly only. In OI, a homogeneous fluorescence of the mantle dentin and the dentin zone surrounding the abnormal canal-like structures was observed. With anti type III collagen serum, the normal dentin matrix failed to stain. In OI, the staining pattern was a narrow halo surrounding the canal-like structures. Alteration in the collagen or the noncollagenous components of the dentin matrix may explain the staining reactions of the various collagens in OI.