The cryomicrotomy of rat dental tissues: a technique for histological and immunohistochemical analysis.

We have applied a method developed for the cryomicrotomy of non-decalcified bone to the histological preparation of the tooth and related dental tissues. Cryosections of rat mandible have been cut on a heavy-duty freezing microtome. Both cellular and extracellular structure was well preserved and the sections of tooth and bone appeared to be suitable for optical and scanning electron microscopy and for immunohistochemical analysis. However, there was an overall strong non-specific binding of immunohistochemical reagents to enamel which was not evident in the other mineralized tissues of the mandible. This may relate to important differences in the nature of this tissue.