Observations on the structural features and characteristics of biological apatite crystals. 2. Observation on the ultrastructure of human enamel crystals.

Abstract

In a series of studies to investigate the structural features of biological crystals, using an electron microscope, we examined the ultrastructure of human enamel crystals at near atomic resolution through the cross and longitudinal sections of the crystals. The materials used for this study were the middle layer of the noncarious enamel from freshly extracted human erupted permanent molars. The small cubes of the enamel were fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide and embedded in epoxy resin using the routine methods. The ultrathin sections were cut with a diamond knife without decalcification. The sections were examined with HITACHI H-500 and H-700 types of transmission electron microscopes operated at 125-200 kV. Each crystal was observed at the initial magnification of 300,000 times and at the final magnification of 10,000,000 times and over. Using this approach, the authors have been able to show the configuration of the hydroxyapatite in the cross and longitudinal sections of the enamel crystals and observe the basic hexagonal pattern of the unit cell viewed down the c-axis. The authors sincerely believe that the electron micrograph shown in this report is the first atomic image to be obtained from a hydroxyapatite crystal from the human enamel, using the sections.