Incorporation of Tetracycline in Developing Dog Enamel and Dentin

Abstract

The enamel of dogs exposed to tetracycline during the period of amelogenesis was investigated for the presence of the drug. The enamel was obtained from dogs dosed daily with tetracycline (20 mg/kg body weight/day) from weaning at 2 months until sacrifice at 5 months. The dog''s teeth were powdered and the enamel separated from the dentin by flotation using bromoform. The pigmented extract from the treated enamel was examined spectrophotometrically, with untreated enamel as a control. The presence of tetracycline in the treated enamel was shown by an absorbtion peak at 2750 Angstrom units. Tetracycline was present in the dentin. There was enamel hypoplasia in the teeth of animals who received the tetracycline.