Journal of Dental Research, Vol 67, 1396-1401, Copyright © 1988 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
A scanning electron microscope study of monkey maturation-stage ameloblasts
Z. Skobe, K. S. Prostak and D. N. Stern
Forsyth Dental Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
The maturation-stage enamel organs of Macaca arctoides and Macaca mulatta
were examined in order to determine whether the cells were similar to those
of the continuously erupting rat incisor. Tooth buds of the permanent
dentition were fixed in formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde and post-fixed in OsO4.
The enamel organs were separated from the enamel during dehydration,
critical-point-dried, metal-coated, and examined in a scanning electron
microscope. The results showed that there were few differences in the
morphology of maturation-stage ameloblasts of these primates compared with
those of other species reported in the literature. The apical plasma
membranes were either smooth- or ruffle-ended, while the later membranes
had maze, microvillous, or ridge configurations, also seen in rats, and an
additional configuration of interdigitating bulbous extensions. The blood
vessels of the papillary layer in monkeys were about 7 micron in diameter,
considerably larger than those of the rat.
