Diazo-oxo-norleucine (DON)-induced alterations in the extracellular matrix of the mouse tooth germ.

In a previous study we have shown that the glutamine analogue diazo-oxo-norleucine (DON) inhibits the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into odontoblasts in the developing tooth. In the present study we have studied the effect of DON on the formation of the extracellular matrix by using light microscopic autoradiography and transmission electron microscopy. The inhibition of odontoblast differentiation was accompanied by alterations in the extracellular matrix at the epithelio-mesenchymal interface. The interface was reduced in space and filled with filamentous material, and the organization of collagen fibers in more advanced tooth germs was disturbed. DON also reduced the incorporation of [35S]sulphate into the basement membrane region, whereas no marked change was observed in the incorporation of [3H]fucose. These results suggest that DON affected the cell--matrix interaction which is believed to control the differentiation of odontoblast.