Influence of albumin and collagen on the cell mortality evoked by zinc oxide-eugenol in vitro

Zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) is cytotoxic in vitro but does not cause pulp dama ge. Various dentin proteins may play a protective role in vivo, We investig ated the influence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and collagen on ZOE cytoto xicity in the Millipore filter test and a dentin barrier test. Agar or agar ose with 1% or 5% BSA or calf collagen (1% and 2%) were introduced between L-929 fibroblasts and test specimens, ZOE was severely toxic in the absence of BSA, However BSA (1% and 3%) reduced cell damage to 50% and 35%, In con trast, collagen did not provide protection from ZOE cytotoxicity. When dent in was loaded with 3% BSA and the "pulpal" side of a dentin barrier test ch amber was perfused with cell culture medium containing 3% BSA, cytotoxicity of ZOE was completely inhibited. Therefore we conclude that albumin may be one factor responsible for the absence of ZOE toxicity in pulp studies.