Protein synthesis in vitro, in the presence of Ca(OH)2-containing pulp-capping medicaments.

Four Ca(OH)2-containing pulp-capping medicaments were compared for their effects on protein synthesis in early subcultures of monkey- and human-pulpal fibroblasts. While protein synthesis, as well as DNA synthesis, was depressed by three of the medicaments, the protein-synthetic rate in human-cell cultures in the presence of Life rose to control levels when the medium was changed daily, but was depressed when the medium was not changed. This suggests that serum proteins play a protective role for pulpal tissues under inflammatory conditions, at least in the case of Life, allowing odontoblasts to differentiate and make dentinal matrix without interference of either toxic components or excess alkalinity.