title: Mineralization of developing teeth.
abstract: The distribution of some essential elements and mainly Ca & P in mineralizing matrices of enamel, dentine and predentine and in contiguous cellular strata of developing mouse molars was studied by electron probe analysis, supplemented by polarization microscopy. Distribution gradients for Ca, P, & Ca/P were noted in the matrices. In the early stages of mineralization of enamel and dentine (predentine) Ca/P ratios were low suggesting the presence of either amorphous forms of calcium phosphate or protein bound calcium. Calcium concentrations in odontoblast and ameloblast strata were notable. Elevated values were recorded in the ameloblast layer of the most mature stage (14 days). Sulfur concentration in early enamel exceeds by tenfold that of mature enamel largely due to loss of methionine. The substantial levels of sulfur in predentine are barely detectable in dentine probably due to the loss of sulfated glycosaminoglycans. The mineralization of the negatively charged matrices of enamel and dentine is associated with the loss of water, changes in composition and in the state of aggregation. The accumulation of calcium in crystalline and other forms can be explained by the conditions of the Gibbs-Donnan equilibrium.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000032:analysis; D003804:Dentin / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D009805:Odontogenesis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D014074:Tooth Calcification
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus; D002118:Calcium