A modification of tooth germ cultivation in vitro and in ovo.

Mandibular molar anlages excised from 17-day mouse foetuses were cultured in vitro or in ovo (on the chorioallantoic membrane). In both cases, the explants were underlain either with a Millipore filter or with a piece of fibrin foam. Tooth germs were harvested after 7 days of cultivation and processed histologically. Spatial arrangement was highly preserved in the tooth germs cultured in vitro on fibrin foam. In vitro cultures on Millipore filters revealed significant flattening of tooth germs, caused especially by the collapse of enamel organ and the pulp. The cytodifferentiation of tooth germs cultured in vitro on both substrates (Millipore filter, fibrin foam) was characterized by the presence of odontoblasts, polarizing ameloblasts and predentine. The cytodifferentiation of tooth germs cultured in ovo on Millipore filters placed on chorioallantoic membrane was characterized by the presence of odontoblasts, ameloblasts, predentine, dentine and enamel. However, the flattening of these explants was identical with the changes of the explants cultured on Millipore filters in vitro. In ovo cultivation on the fibrin foam failed to bring satisfactory results.