RESUMO
Objective: The aim of this study was to quantify the action of the enzyme pepsin on demineralized dentine collagen
Materials and Methods: Slices of dentin were demineralized with acetic and lactic acids. Subsequently, the demineralized surfaces were treated with the enzyme pepsin. To obtain information on the morphology of the demineralized dentine before and after pepsin treatment, high resolution FE-SEM was used. Chemical analysis of the demineralizing solutions was done to identify demineralized and denaturated collagen
Results: As shown in the SEM pictures, surface precipitates accumulated on the demineralized surfaces. The biochemical analysis revealed that no hydroxyproline could be detected in the acetic acid after 7 days of demineralization. Hydroxyproline was found in lactic acid after 3, 7 and 14 days. The enzyme pepsin was effective in removing the degraded organic matrix
Conclusions: The results of the present study indicated a different effect of acetic and lactic acids on collagen degradation; both denaturated and demineralized dentine were produced when lactic acid was used. The application of the enzyme pepsin was capable of removing the denaturated collagen