Figure 2.

Immunostained type IV collagen at the DEJ is susceptible to bacterial collagenase treatment. Immunofluorescently stained images were obtained by confocal microscopy as described in ‘Methods’. Results shown are representative of 4 experiments. (a-a′) Immunostained appearance of the cuspal and cervical region of a control section without collagenase. (b-b′) Immunoreactivity of type IV collagen was greatly diminished in both the cuspal and cervical regions after 6 hr of digestion with purified bacterial collagenase. Note control and collagenase-treated sections were from the same tooth. EOM, enamel organic matrix; DEJ, dentin-enamel junction; D, dentin. Scale bar = 100 μm, applicable to all images.