Effect of pituitary hormones on dentin production in maxillary incisors in the rat.

The effect of pituitary hormones on dentin production and longitudinal growth of the maxillary incisors in normal and hypophysectomized rats was investigated. Bovine growth hormone was found to increase the dentin production slightly in normal rats and significantly in hypophysectomized rats. Other pituitary hormones showed no effects on dentin apposition in the doses and periods tested. The effects of the pituitary hormones on the longitudinal growth of the tooth were small or insignificant. The effects of growth hormone on the dentin apposition and the longitudinal growth of the tooth after hypophysectomy were smaller than the effects on longitudinal bone growth and cortical bone remodeling, indicating different sensitivity to hormones between different mineralized tissues.