A light microscopical and microradiographic study of coronal dentin in red deer with special reference to the occurrence of giant tubules.

The coronal dentin of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) was studied by light microscopy and microradiographyy. The material consisted of incisors from 10 animals, 2 1/2-6 1/2 years of age. Sections in the long axes of the crowns in the buccolingual and mesiodistal planes were prepared, as well as transverse sections. A few crowns were also examined in toto. A system of giant tubules of the same type as in human dentin is described. It was, however, characterized by more regularity in the number and the morphology of the tubules. As in human dentin, the giant tubules extended from the border of the pulpal cavity and could be followed, though not continuously, through secondary and primary dentin almost to the incisal dentinoenamel junction. Up to 60 giant tubules could be counted in the mesiodistal axis of the dentin. Contrary to the situation in man, areas of interglobular dentin were abundant in the crowns.