[Apoptosis in the developing tooth of postnatal rat].

OBJECTIVE

To study apoptosis in the developing tooth of postnatal rat.

METHODS

Transferase-mediated, dUTP-biotin nick end labeling(TUNEL) method was utilized to label the paraffin sections of the lower and upper jaws taken from 3 days and 9 days of postnatal rats.

RESULTS

Positive stains for the presence of apoptosis were observed in ameloblasts, especially in cervical loop region, and stellate reticulum cells. Odontoblasts at the tip of developing molars in which physiological osteodentin was forming were strongly positive. A few dental pulp cells were labeled.

CONCLUSION

Apotosis is a biological process, which play an important role in the formation of teeth. Apoptosis may take place in epithelial derived cells as well as mesenchymal-derived cells.