Fig. 3From: Odontoblast-like differentiation and mineral formation of pulpsphere derived cells on human root canal dentin in vitroFluorescence microscopic analysis of spheres in human root canals. The histological sections are divided into the areas (1) root canal dentin, (2) influenced area by EDTA, (3) cellular agglomerate of the sphere and (4) root canal lumen. In the different paraffin sections, the nuclei of the pulp cells are stained “blue”, the dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1) “green” and the dentin sialoprotein (DSP) “red”. a. and b. In the samples treated with the EDTA, a uniform layer (2) is visible in which the two labeled proteins are apparently released and detectable. The two odontoblast-specific proteins are also clearly detectable in the cell layers of the sphere (3). The cells within the spheres are evenly distributed (blue-colored cell nuclei) within the spheres. c. and d. In the transition region between region 2 and 3, the cells lie flat with elongated nuclei on the root canal dentin surfaceBack to article page