Stimulatory effect of transferrin on the proliferation of embryonic mouse molar pre-odontoblasts and pre-ameloblasts in organ culture.

The effects of transferrin on the proliferation kinetics of these cells from day-14 lower first molars, cultured for 2-6 days in a chemically defined medium supplemented with 5 and 50 micrograms/ml of human diferric transferrin, were studied. Transferrin stimulated the mitotic and [3H]-thymidine labelling indices. These data were correlated with immunolocalization of the transferrin receptor using indirect immunofluorescence and specific monoclonal antibodies. The presence of specific transferrin receptors in pre-odontoblasts and pre-ameloblasts, and in ameloblasts of older teeth (day-18 to day-21), was also assessed by indirect immunofluorescence and binding experiments using iodinated transferrin.