An immunohistochemical study of the effects of fluoride on enamel development in the rat incisor.

A monoclonal antiamelogenin antibody was used to investigate the effects of fluoride on enamel development in the rat incisor. The results suggested that during secretion the enamel matrix molecules are arranged in such a way as to mask the epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody. However, during the transition stage of development as the matrix begins to be degraded the epitope becomes exposed and labelling intensity increases to reach a maximum at the end of transition/start of maturation. The effect of fluoride is to delay the appearance of labelling within the enamel matrix until the end of transition. This suggests that the fluoride may inhibit enzymatic degradation or disaggregation of the matrix, the resulting residual matrix then inhibiting crystal growth.