Ultrastructure of the effects of calcitonin on the development of mouse tooth germs in vitro

[Association between root abnormalities and related pathogenic genes in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between the abnormal root morphology and bone metabolism or root development related gene polymorphism in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis.

METHODS

In the study, 179 patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis were enrolled, with an average age of (27.23±5.19) years, male / female = 67/112. The average number of teeth remaining in the mouth was (26.80±1.84). Thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of nine genes which related to bone metabolism and root development were detected by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Root abnormalities were identified using periapical radiographs. The abnormal root morphology included cone-rooted teeth, slender-root teeth, short-rooted teeth, curved-rooted teeth, syncretic-rooted molars, and molar root abnormalities. The number of teeth and incidence of abnormal root morphology in different genotypes of 13 SNPs were analyzed.

RESULTS

The constituent ratio of root with root abnormality in GAgP patients was 14.49%(695/4 798). The average number of teeth with abnormal root morphology in GAgP was (3.88±3.84). The average number of teeth with abnormal root morphology in CC, CT and TT genotypes in vitamin D receptor (VDR) rs2228570 was (4.66±4.10), (3.71±3.93) and (2.68±2.68). There was significant difference between TT genotype and CC genotype (t = 2.62, P =0.01). The average number of root morphological abnormalities in CC, CT and TT genotypes of Calcitotin Receptor (CTR) gene rs2283002 was (5.02±3.70), (3.43±3.95), and (3.05±3.12). The incidence of root morphological abnormalities in CC genotype was higher than that in the patients with CT and TT, and the difference was statistically significant(87.86% vs. 65.26% & 63.64%, P=0.006, adjusted OR =3.71, 95%CI: 1.45-9.50). There was no significant difference in the incidence of abnormal root morphology between CT and TT genotypes.

CONCLUSION

VDR rs2228570 and CTR rs2283002 may be associated with the occurrence of abnormal root morphology in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis, which is worthy of further research.

The effect of calcitonin on osseous healing in guinea pig mandible

Calcitonin (CT) is reported to be an effective medication for the treatment of inflammatory root resorption and to be capable of stimulating osteoblast proliferation in cell culture studies. In this study the effect of CT on the healing of osseous defects was evaluated in the mandibles of guinea pigs. After raising tissue flaps two experimental cavities were created on both sides of the corpus mandible of 33 guinea pigs. CT was applied into cavities either in hydroxypropyl methycellulose (HPMC) gel or gelatin as carrier. HPMC and gelatin alone and an empty cavity were also examined as control groups. Histopathological examinations under light microscopy were performed on weeks 1, 3, and 6. At week 1 in CT+gelatin and CT+HPMC groups, prominent osteoblastic activity was observed when compared with control groups. At week 3 the presence of woven bone in the experimental cavity areas reflected the increased osteoblastic activity in all groups. At the end of week 6 woven bone was gradually replaced by osteogenic tissue undergoing remodelization with Haversian systems in all groups. It is suggested that the osseous healing of the experimental cavity was enhanced by CT application in early stages (i.e. at week 1). However there was no significant difference of osteogenic activity between the control and CT-treated groups at the end of weeks 3 and 6.

A simple, disposable, and improved organ culture system for maintaining three-dimensional development of mouse embryonic molars

Mandibular first molars from 17-d-old mouse embryos were cultured in vitro for 2 to 4 d by a simple, disposable, improved floatation method. This method consisted of using a 24-well multidish and a plastic culture chamber with a membrane filter. The improved floatation method, as well as our previous method, was capable of the three-dimensional development of tooth germs. Cytodifferentiation of odontoblasts and ameloblasts and formation of extracellular matrices were accelerated by the present culture system, in comparison with our previous method. All the molars cultivated by this method were very similar in morphology to in vivo. On Day 2 of culture the terminal cytodifferentiation of odontoblasts and the formation of predentin were ascertained in the bucco-lingual sections of the cultured molars. A thick layer of predentin was formed at the tip of the cusp and gradually decreased toward the cervical loop and the fissure between the buccal and lingual cusps. On Day 4 in vitro, secretory ameloblasts produced enamel matrix, and the mineralized enamel showed showed prismatic structure very similar to that in vivo. Dentin and predentin also were normal in ultrastructure. The extracellular matrices (enamel, dentine, and predentin) were formed in line with the pattern of the cusp and the formation of matrices normally started at the tip of the cusp. We conclude that the three-dimensional development of whole tooth germs in vitro may be very important for normal expression of the developmental program intrinsic to mouse embryonic molars.

In vitro effects of calcitonin and/or parathyroid hormone on odontogenesis of mouse embryonic molars

Mandibular first molars of mouse embryos were cultivated for examination of the effects of calcitonin (CT) and/or parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the odontogenesis of the molars, and for determination of whether and how CT, which is a PTH antagonist, has an influence on the effect of PTH on odontogenesis. On the second day, the inner enamel epithelium in the control group had already differentiated into pre-ameloblasts. Typical odontoblasts had secreted a layer of predentin. On the fourth day of culture, the pre-ameloblasts achieved terminal differentiation into secretory ameloblasts, and enamel and dentin had already been deposited. PTH (1 unit/mL) inhibited the odontogenesis of the cultured molars during the designated culture periods (two and four days), while CT (0.5 unit/mL) stimulated odontogenesis. On the second day, the development of the molars in the CT + PTH group showed an intermediate stage between the control and PTH-treated explants, but on day 4 it corresponded to that of the controls. Moreover, when the molars exposed to PTH for two days were untreated and treated with CT for an additional two days, the former produced a small quantity of enamel matrix, while the latter formed a large amount of the matrix. These histological findings were also supported by a morphometric analysis of the enamel matrix in the cultured molars. The present results suggest that CT stimulates, but PTH suppresses, the odontogenesis of the mouse embryonic molars, and that CT is an antagonist to the inhibitory effect of PTH on odontogenesis.

Effects of parathyroid hormone on odontogenesis of the mouse embryonic molar tooth in vitro

Mandibular first molars of 17-day-old mouse embryos were cultured in vitro to examine the histological effects of various concentrations of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on odontogenesis of the molars. PTH did not affect the cytodifferentiation of mesenchymal cells into preodontoblasts but inhibited that of preodontoblasts into odontoblasts. Consequently, the odontoblasts failed to undergo dentinogenesis. On the other hand, inner enamel epithelium achieved terminal cytodifferentiation into secretory ameloblasts and these cells partially formed enamel in spite of the absence of dentin. All treated molars showed the same histological disturbances and these effects were independent of PTH dose. The present study indicated that PTH had an influence on mesenchyme-derived cells, inhibiting both the differentiation of odontoblasts and the formation of predentin and dentin.

Hormone-responsive cells derived from human dental papilla: characterization in vitro and in vivo in diffusion chambers

Cells of the dental papilla are capable of odontoblastic, fibroblastic, and endothelial differentiation and formation of dentin and the dental pulp. In the present study dental papilla cells, obtained from human tooth buds (HDP cells), were cultured in vitro through 3 to 7 passages. After exposure to prostaglandin E2 there was a marked decrease in intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels as compared to hormone-free controls. Parathyroid hormone and calcitonin had stimulatory effects with 1 and 2 log increases in cAMP, respectively. The HDP cells showed moderate activity of alkaline phosphatase, 1 log higher than that of hamster kidney fibroblasts (BHK 13) and 1 log lower than that of osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2). When cultured for 4 or 8 wk in diffusion chambers (DC) implanted in athymic mice, many of the HDP cells underwent odontoblastic morphodifferentiation with very long, single processes extending into the matrix. This matrix contained banded and unbanded collagen fibers. Neither light nor electron microscopy of the DC content revealed mineral deposits. These results suggest that HDP cells have an intrinsic potential for partial odontoblastic differentiation; inductive signals like those originating from odontogenic epithelium are probably essential for the completion of hard tissue formation.

An ultrastructural study of dentinogenesis and amelogenesis in rat molar tooth germs cultured in vitro

Molar tooth germs from three-day-old rats were cultured successfully for fourteen days, permitting the study of the development in vitro of both extracellular matrix and cellular elements such as odontoblasts and ameloblasts. The ultrastructure of the cultured tooth germs was compared with the ultrastructure of tooth germs in vivo at a comparable developmental stage. Progenitor cells of odontoblasts and ameloblasts were found to differentiate in vitro. Odontoblasts seemed to contain more lysosome-like bodies and fewer secretory granules than in vivo. They formed normally mineralizing dentine or a thick layer of dense, unmineralized predentine with incidentally some amorphous, extracellular material. Enamel was exclusively present opposite well developed dentine. It was often hyper- or hypomineralized and enamel rods were not as regularly shaped as in vivo. In places where no enamel formation had taken place, large amounts of amorphous extracellular material were sometimes seen. From these observations it can be concluded that cellular development in cultured tooth germs appeared more or less normal, but extracellular matrix formation and mineralization were sometimes disturbed.

A new culture method assuring the three-dimensional development of the mouse embryonic molar tooth in vitro

Mandibular first molars from 17-day-old mouse embryos were cultivated in vitro for 10 days using a new organ culture method. This method consisted of using a small glass dish and an agar chamber to slowly float the molars to the gas-medium interface where they were maintained by the surface tension of the medium. The molars developed three-dimensionally through the use of this method. Five cusps with refractile dental matrix were recognized from the occlusal side. It was easy to determine antero-posterior and bucco-lingual orientation of the molars. Thick sections of the bucco-lingual plane showed the normal cytodifferentiation of ameloblasts and odontoblasts. The thick enamel layer was formed to the extent of the fissure region between cusps. Furthermore, a great quantity of stippled material accumulated between the enamel and the ameloblasts. The stippled material displayed a meshlike fibrilar structure, and at the mineralization front, it seemed that the fibrils of stippled material adjacent to the enamel had been transformed into needlelike enamel crystals. In addition, bundles of the fibrils similar to enamel crystals were found in the stippled material. As the floatation method resulted in the three-dimensional development of the molars and the development of the enamel without the presence of histological disturbances, it was considered superior to other culture methods for the facilitation of orientation and the development of cusps.