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Deimling D, Breschi L, Hoth-Hannig W, Ruggeri A, Hannig C, Nekrashevych Y, Prati C, Hannig M. Electron microscopic detection of salivaryα -amylase in the pellicle formedin situ.Eur J Oral Sci 2004; 112: 503–509.© Eur J Oral Sci, 2004Immunological and biochemical analyses have shown thatα-amylase is an essential component of the acquired pellicle. After adsorption, this enzyme might act as a receptor for bacterial adherence. However, data indicating that amylase is bound to the pellicle surfacein vivoand thus available for adhering bacteria are rare. Therefore, the present study focused onα-amylase within the pellicle formedin situ, using gold-immunolabeling electron microscopic techniques. Pellicles were formed by intra-oral exposure of enamel specimens for 30 and 120 min in six subjects. The results obtained by transmission electron microscopy indicate that amylase was randomly distributed in the pellicle layer without any preferential localization within the pellicle. Thus, salivaryα-amylase might be considered as an important structural component that is even involved in the early stages of pellicle formation. The findings of field emission in-lens scanning electron microscopy provided evidence that the enzyme is located on the pellicle surface. It could be concluded thatα-amylase might act as a receptor for bacterial adherence to the pelliclein vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunological and biochemical analyses have shown that alpha-amylase is an essential component of the acquired pellicle. After adsorption, this enzyme might act as a receptor for bacterial adherence. However, data indicating that amylase is bound to the pellicle surface in vivo and thus available for adhering bacteria are rare. Therefore, the present study focused on alpha-amylase within the pellicle formed in situ, using gold-immunolabeling electron microscopic techniques. Pellicles were formed by intra-oral exposure of enamel specimens for 30 and 120 min in six subjects. The results obtained by transmission electron microscopy indicate that amylase was randomly distributed in the pellicle layer without any preferential localization within the pellicle. Thus, salivary alpha-amylase might be considered as an important structural component that is even involved in the early stages of pellicle formation. The findings of field emission in-lens scanning electron microscopy provided evidence that the enzyme is located on the pellicle surface. It could be concluded that alpha-amylase might act as a receptor for bacterial adherence to the pellicle in vivo., (Copyright Eur J Oral Sci, 2004.)