Fine structure and histochemistry of the teeth of the tree frog (Hyla japonica).
Observations were carried out on the morphology of the teeth of the adult tree frog (Hyla japonica) at an ultrastructural level. Many small crystals pile up in the enamel layer which do not typical enamel rods. At the thin layered buccolingual region of the tooth, the matrices of crystals are arranged either regularly in the enamel layer or randomly in the dentine layer. In particular, the apical portion of the enamel layer is more regularly and mineralized. ATPase activity is located in multivesicular bodies, the round mitochondria and the lateral borders forming the infolding of the interdigitation of the ameloblast. The reaction is also found in small round vesicles in the enamel layer and the distal cell membrane during the maturation stage. During enamel formation of teeth of Hyla japonica, there is no Tomes' process. Instead secretory granular bodies contain ATPase, may control calcium entry into developing enamel of the ameloblasts. The content of ATPase is less than that of mammals. In contrast, the Tomes' process, containing much ATPase, is related to the pattern and arrangement of the enamel matrices in mammals.
Sato
I
I
Department of Anatomy, School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
Shimada
K
K
Sato
T
T
Kitagawa
T
T
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000565:Ameloblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000502:physiology*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014070:Tooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases