In vivo morphogenetic activity of dentine matrix proteins.

Matrix proteins (EDTA-soluble and collagenase-released) from rabbit dentine have been demonstrated to show in vivo morphogenetic activity in exposed pulps of ferret canine teeth. In young adult ferrets, the reparative dentine resembled normal primary tubular dentine with odontoblast-like cells lining its formative surface. The reparative response in older animals was seen as osteo-dentine deposition. In both cases, the reparative response was characterized by its intensity within a comparatively short time period and also by the low grade or complete absence of any localized inflammatory response. Dentine matrix proteins implanted in exposed pulps of teeth provide a good experimental model for analysing the cell-matrix interactions and events taking place during odontoblast differentiation and dentinogenesis.