[The effect of retinoic acid on crown morphogenesis of mouse tooth germs in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of retinoic acid on crown morphogenesis of early tooth germs.


METHODS
Mouse tooth organ culture model was used and the functions of different retinoic acid concentration on the first mandibular molar germs of 14-day old mouse embryo were examined.


RESULTS
The first mandibular molar germ of 14-day old mouse was at the bud stage. After 6 days culture, tooth germs in culture medium (not containing retinoic acid) developed from bud stage to bell stage and formed normal cusps. The morphogenesis of tooth germs in medium containing 1 x 10(-7) mol/L retinoic acid was similar to molar germs in the medium without retinoic acid. When the concentration of retinoic acid increased to 1 x 10(-6) mol/L, the mouse tooth germs still developed from bud stage to bell stage, but normal cusps was not formed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that high concentration of retinoic acid alter crown morphogenesis of tooth germs.
Gao
Y
Y
College of Stomatology, Hubei Medical University, Wuhan 430079.
Fan
M
M
Bian
Z
Z
D000818:Animals; D051379:Mice; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000196:embryology*; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014212:Tretinoin