The effect of vinblastine on the protein metabolism of the periodontal ligament of impeded and unimpeded mouse incisors was studied by [3H]-glycine labelling and radioautography. The silver-grain concentration was determined in areas adjacent to the tooth, areas adjacent to bone and, as an internal control, in the dentine matrix. From 1 to 12 h there was no difference between treated and control animals; thus the drug did not alter protein biosynthesis. Later, the silver-grain concentration was significantly higher in areas adjacent to both bone and tooth in vinblastine-treated animals, suggesting a longer half-life of the labelled proteins. No significant differences between normal or unimpeded erupting incisors of both groups were detected. Dentine matrix showed a possibly higher re-utilization of the labelled amino acid in vinblastine-treated animals. The amount of labelled protein removed by collagenase was similar in both groups, while the concentration of grains due to collagenase-resistant proteins was significantly higher in treated animals, particularly at 96 h after the injection of labelled glycine. The relation between the increased amount of non-collagenous proteins in the periodontal ligament and the decrease in the rate of eruption caused by vinblastine was not established. However, among these proteins, fibronectin and proteoglycans are thought to be important factors in tooth eruption. © 1994.393223230Azevedo, Blumen, Merzel, The effect of colchicine and vinblastine on the secretory activity of ameloblasts in the mouse lower incisor as revealed by autoradiography after injection of 35S-sodium sulphate (1982) J. Biol. buccale, 10, pp. 45-54Beertsen, Everts, The site of remodelling of collagen in the periodontal ligament of the mouse incisor (1977) Anat. Rec., 189, pp. 479-498Beertsen, Tonino, Effect of fixation and demineralization on the intensity of autoradiographic labelling over the periodontal ligament of the mouse incisor after administration of 3H-proline (1975) Archs oral Biol., 20, pp. 189-193Beertsen, Everts, Hoeben, Niehof, Microtubules in periodontal ligament cells in relation to tooth eruption and collagen degradation (1984) J. periodont. Res., 19, pp. 489-500Bellows, Melcher, Aubin, An in vitro model for tooth eruption utilizing periodontal ligament fibroblasts and collagen lattices (1983) Archs oral Biol., 28, pp. 715-722Carneiro, Fava de Moraes, Radioautographic visualization of collagen metabolism in the periodontal tissues of the mouse (1965) Archs oral Biol., 10, pp. 833-848Carneiro, Leblond, Suitability of collagenase treatment for the radioautographic identification of newly synthesized collagen labeled with 3H-glycine or 3H-proline (1966) J. Histochem. Cytochem., 14, pp. 334-344Chiba, Ohshima, Effects of colchicine and hydrocortisone on unimpeded eruption rates of rootresected mandibular incisors of rats (1985) Archs oral Biol., 30, pp. 147-153Chiba, Takisawa, Ohshima, Dose-response effects of colchicine and vinblastine on unimpeded eruption rates of the rat mandibular incisor (1980) Archs oral Biol., 25, pp. 115-119Cho, Garant, An electron microscopic radioautographic study of collagen secretion in periodontal ligament fibroblasts of the mouse: II. colchicinetreated fibroblasts (1981) Anat. Rec., 201, pp. 587-598Ehrlich, Ross, Bornstein, Effects of antimicrotubular agents on the secretion of collagen (1974) J. Cell Biol., 62, pp. 390-405Embery, Picton, Stanbury, Biochemical changes in periodontal ligament ground substance associated with short-term intrusive loadings in adult monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) (1987) Archs oral Biol., 32, pp. 545-549Fujimoto, Yoshinaga, Kono, Distribution of fibronectin on the migratory pathway of primordial germ cells in mice (1985) Anat. Rec., 211, pp. 271-278Josephsen, Warshawsky, Radioautography of rat incisor dentin as a continuous record of the incorporation of a single dose of 3H-labeled proline and tyrosine (1982) Am. J. Anat., 164, pp. 45-56Kanoza, Kellehier, Sodek, Melcher, A biochemical analysis of the effect of hypofunction on collagen metabolism in the rat molar periodontal ligament (1980) Archs oral Biol., 25, pp. 663-668Karim, Warshawsky, The effect of colcemid on the structure and secretory activity of ameloblasts in the rat incisor as shown by radioautography after injection of 3H-proline (1979) Anat. Rec., 195, pp. 587-610Karnovsky, A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolality for use in electron microscopy (1965) J. Cell Biol., 27, pp. 137-138Kopriwa, Leblond, Improvements in the coating technique of radioautography (1962) Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, 10, pp. 269-284Moe, On the effect of vinblastine on ameloblasts of rat incisors in vivo (1977) Acta path. microbiol. scand. Sect. A., 85, pp. 330-334Moe, Mikkelsen, Light microscopical and ultrastructural observations on the effect of vinblastine on ameloblasts of rat incisors in vivo (1977) Acta path. microbiol. scand. Sect. A., 85, pp. 73-88Moe, Mikkelsen, On the effect of vinblastine on ameloblasts of rat incisors in vivo (1977) Acta path. microbiol. scand. Sect. A., 85, pp. 319-329Moskalewski, Thiberg, Lohmander, Friberg, Influence of colchicine and vinblastine on the Golgi complex and matrix deposition in chondrocyte aggregates (1975) Expl cell. Res., 95, pp. 440-454Moxham, Berkovitz, The periodontal ligament and physiological tooth movements (1982) The Periodontal Ligament in Health and Disease, pp. 215-247. , B.K.B. Berkovitz, B.J. Moxham, H.N. Newman, Pergamon Press, OxfordMoxham, Berkovitz, Interactions between thyroxine, hydrocortisone and cyclophosphamide in their effects on the eruption of the rat mandibular incisor (1983) Archs oral Biol., 28, pp. 1083-1087Newgreen, Thiery, Fibronectin in early avian embryos: synthesis and distribution along the migration pathways of neural crest cells (1980) Cell Tiss. Res., 211, pp. 269-291Orlowski, The incorporation of 3H-proline into the collagen of the periodontium of a rat (1976) J. periodont. Res., 11, pp. 96-100Orlowski, Biochemical study of collagen turnover in rat incisor periodontal ligament (1978) Archs oral Biol., 23, pp. 1163-1165Pearse, (1980) Histochemistry-Theoretical and Applied, 1. , 4th edn, Churchill Livingstone, LondonRippin, Collagen turnover in the periodontal ligament under normal and altered functional forces. I. Young rat molars (1976) J. periodont. Res., 11, pp. 101-107Rippin, Collagen turnover in the periodontal ligament under normal and altered functional forces. II. Adult rat molars (1978) J. periodont. Res., 13, pp. 149-154Sodek, A comparison of the rates of synthesis and turnover of collagen and non-collagen proteins in adult rat periodontal tissues and skin using a microassay (1977) Archs oral Biol., 22, pp. 655-665Takizawa, Effects of colchicine and vinblastine on the eruption of the rat mandibular incisor, and histological changes of the internal enamel epithelium, pulp cells and periodontal fibroblasts (1981) Tsurumi Univ. dent. J., 7, pp. 125-143Taverne, Lemmens, Tonino, Lathyrogens and the role of collagen in the eruption of rat incisors (1986) Archs oral Biol., 31, pp. 127-131Thyberg, Moskalewski, Friberg, Effects of antimicrotubular agents on the fine structure of the Golgi complex in embryonic chick osteoblasts (1978) Cell Tiss. Res., 193, pp. 247-257Tsé, Boaventura, Fernandes, Merzel, The effects of cerebral hemidecortication on the eruption rate and uptake of 3H-glycine by the periodontal ligament of the rat incisor (1988) Archives of Oral Biology, 33, pp. 605-611Van den Bos, Tonino, Composition and metabolism of the extracellular matrix in the periodontal ligament of impeded and unimpeded rat incisors (1984) Archs oral Biol., 29, pp. 893-897Warshawsky, Moore, A technique for the fixation and decalcification of rat incisors for electron microscopy (1967) J. Histochem. Cytochem., 15, pp. 542-549