Susceptibility of the collagenous matrix from bovine incisor roots to proteolysis after in vitro lesion formation.

The susceptibility of the organic matrix from permanent bovine incisor roots to proteolytic breakdown after in vitro lesion formation was investigated. Root surfaces were exposed to 0.1 M acetic acid, pH 4.0, to produce erosive lesions or to 0.1 M lactic acid, 0.2 mM methane hydroxy diphosphonate, pH 5.0, to produce subsurface lesions. After demineralization, the roots were treated with a bacterial collagenase. The quantity of enzyme-degradable collagen in the root tissue was found to be proportional to the calcium released during demineralization, until a plateau value was reached at calcium concentrations in solution of 3.3 mM at pH 4.0 and 2.7 mM at pH 5.0. The degradability of collagen was found to be substantially less in subsurface lesions than in erosive lesions. The presence of cementum-free areas did not affect the results. These findings suggest that the mineral component of the roots is composed of several fractions which differ in their solubility properties in weak acids.