Fosse G, Justesen N P, Wesenberg G B
Calcif Tissue Int. 1981;33(5):521-8. doi: 10.1007/BF02409484.
Sectioned Cretaceous mammalian teeth were studied by light microscopy and SEM equipment with an electron microprobe. Structures resembling odontoblast processes were found. Their S/Fe ratio was similar to that of rat odontoblast processes, but the amounts of these elements were far higher than in processes of recent teeth. It was concluded that they consisted of pyrite, but their reaction with mercurochrome indicated presence of proteins with SH groups. Fluorescence microscopy indicated traces of collagen in the dentin. In the fossil enamel and dentin the Ca/P ratio was similar to that of recent teeth. Two samples of fossil teeth were analyzed for Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The levels of the latter two elements were normal, whereas that of Cd and especially that of Pb were higher than in laboratory rats. The probability that original protein fractions exist and that the different elements were those of the living animals is discussed.
利用带有电子微探针的光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜设备对白垩纪哺乳动物的切片牙齿进行了研究。发现了类似成牙本质细胞突起的结构。它们的硫/铁比率与大鼠成牙本质细胞突起的相似，但这些元素的含量远高于现代牙齿的突起。得出的结论是，它们由黄铁矿组成，但它们与汞溴红的反应表明存在含巯基的蛋白质。荧光显微镜显示牙本质中有胶原蛋白痕迹。在化石釉质和牙本质中，钙/磷比率与现代牙齿的相似。通过原子吸收分光光度法分析了两个化石牙齿样本中的铅、镉、锌和铜含量。后两种元素的水平正常，而镉尤其是铅的水平高于实验室大鼠。讨论了原始蛋白质组分存在以及不同元素为活体动物元素的可能性。
