The fine structure of early tooth formation in an lguanid lizard, Anolis carolinensis.

Cytodifferentiation and hard tissue formation were studied in Anolis to collect information regarding the phylogenetic history of enamel and the functional significance of the events seen in the mammalian tooth during differentiation. The differentiation of the ameloblasts of Anolis, like that of mammals, shows two phases: In the early phase, the cells are short and rich in free ribosomes, in the late phase the cells elongate, develop an extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum, and the Golgi apparatus moves into that part of the cell next to the basal lamina (the cell apex). The early epithelial-mesenchymal interface resembles that of mammals, suggesting that early mechanisms of induction and epithelial-mesenchymal interaction are similar in Anolis and in mammals. Preameloblast processes and preameloblast-preodontoblast contacts in Anolis are rudimentary compared to those of mammals. While in mammals the preameloblast processes shape the future DEJ (dentin-enamel junction), their involvement in establishing the shape of the DEJ of Anolis is questionable. We suggest that the great development of preameloblast-preodontoblast contacts in mammals may simply increase the efficiency of inductive interactions between these cell types.