THE CRYOMICROTOMY OF RAT DENTAL-TISSUES - A TECHNIQUE FOR HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

We have applied a method developed for the cryomicrotomy of non-decalc ified bone to the histological preparation of the tooth and related de ntal tissues. Cryosections of rat mandible have been cut on a heavy-du ty freezing microtome. Both cellular and extracellular structure was w ell preserved and the sections of tooth and bone appeared to be suitab le for optical and scanning electron microscopy and for immunohistoche mical analysis. However, there was an overall strong non-specific bind ing of immunohistochemical reagents to enamel which was not evident in the other mineralized tissues of the mandible. This may relate to imp ortant differences in the nature of this tissue.