Short-Term Mineralization of Dentin and Enamel in the Mouse Embryonic Molars Cultured in Serum-Free, Chemically-Defined Medium

Abstract

The present study was designed to demonstrate the short term mineralization of dentin and enamel, and to investigate the effects of sodium β-glycerophosphate (Na-β-GP04) on calcification in a serum-free, chemically-defined medium. The first mandibular molars at the bell stage dissected from 18-day -old mouse embryos were used as explants, which were cultured by an improved flotation method. Calcification of enamel in the 18-day-old embryonic molars occurred within the 6th day of culture. In another experiment, the molar germs were cultured in a serum-free, chemically-defined medium supplemented with 1, 5 and 10 mM Na-β-GP04. Promotion of tooth mineralization was recognizable at very low concentrations, such as 1 mM Na-β-GP04, in 18-day-old embryonic tooth germs. The culturing system reported here shortens the time required for dentin and enamel calcification to one half or one third of that reported previously and therefore should prove useful for examining regulations for cytodifferentiation and morphogenesis in tooth germs and the mineralization of dentin and enamel. © 1991, International Society of Histology and Cytology. All rights reserved.