Effects of beta-D-xyloside on morphogenesis and cytodifferentiation in cultured embryonic mouse molars.

Embryonic mouse molars were grown on a semi-solid medium supplemented with 2 mM beta-D-xylopyranoside (beta-xyloside), a specific inhibitor of proteoglycan synthesis. The induced glycosaminoglycan depletion in the extracellular matrix was monitored by immunohistochemistry employing monoclonal antibodies to chondroitin 4- and chondroitin 6-sulfates. beta-Xyloside inhibited formation of the dental bell and delayed the appearance of the first odontoblasts.

Membrane-cytoskeleton interactions: inhibition of odontoblast differentiation by a monoclonal antibody directed against a membrane protein.

It is known that high-molecular-weight (HMW) membrane proteins mediate interactions with constituents of the extracellular matrix and/or with cytoskeletal elements. To study participation of HMW membrane proteins in odontoblast or ameloblast differentiation, an immunological approach has been adopted. Antibodies directed against membrane proteins (Mr, 110-190) from mouse embryos have been produced by the hybridoma technique.

Monoclonal antibodies against mouse molar papilla: preliminary indirect immunofluorescence.

A variety of monoclonal antibodies have been produced against native dental papilla and used to stain frozen sections. Five different staining patterns corresponding to unidentified antigens were documented. The suitability of monoclonal antibodies for probing dental cell lineages is discussed.

The lingual (root analogue) and the labial (crown analogue) mouse incisor dentin promotes ameloblast differentiation.

Previous studies have suggested that mouse molar ameloblast differentiation was triggered by the predentin-dentin. Knowing that enamel is absent on the lingual surface of the mouse incisor, the aim of this study was to compare in heterotopic tissue recombinations the behavior of mouse molar inner dental epithelium associated with lingual or labial mouse incisor dentin. It was shown that root-analogue and crown-analogue incisor dentin promotes ameloblast differentiation of competent molar inner dental epithelium.

Acellular dental matrices promote functional differentiation of ameloblasts.

EDTA treatment of post-natal mouse molars made possible the isolation of cell-free dental matrices composed of basal lamina, predentin, dentin and enamel. Trypsin-isolated dental papillae and enamel organs from embryonic-mouse mandibular molars were combined with isolated matrices and cultured in vitro. In such recombinations, functional odontoblasts were never observed.