AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY EXAMINING THE ROLE OF COLLAGEN TYPE-VI IN THE RODENT PERIODONTAL-LIGAMENT

The distribution of collagen types I and VI has been examined in the p eriodontal ligaments of rat incisor and molar teeth using cryosections and immunohistochemical staining procedures. The stain for collagen t ype I was uniform in all the ligaments examined. Uniform staining for collagen type VI was evident only in the ligament of the fully erupted molars, and the stain was absent from the mid-zone of the ligaments o f the erupting molars and incisors. The staining pattern of the collag en type VI antibodies is consistent with previous reports which have s uggested that the removal of collagen type VI precedes the degradation of major banded collagen fibrils in remodelling connective tissues. T he removal of collagen type VI from the mid-zone of the incisor ligame nt may precede the remodelling events which facilitate tooth eruption.