title: Fine structure and Ca-ATPase activity of the stratum intermedium cells during odontogenesis in gars, Lepisosteus, Actinopterygii.
abstract: This is the first report on the stratum intermedium in vertebrates other than mammals. The aim of this study is to elucidate the fine structure and cytochemical features of the stratum intermedium during the stages of enameloid formation in Lepisosteus. Inner dental epithelium, stratum intermedium, stellate reticulum, and outer dental epithelium are consistently present in the tooth germs of Lepisosteus. The stratum intermedium cells are oval in shape, contain elliptical nuclei, and extend many small processes. It is implied that the structure of the enamel organ is different among actinopterygians, and that constitution of the enamel organ in Lepisosteus resembles that in higher vertebrates. Marked Ca-ATPase activity is observed at the cell membrane of the stratum intermedium cells, suggesting that the cells are involved in calcium transport during the stages of enameloid formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Dentistry at Niigata, Nippon Dental University, 1-8 Hamaura-cho, Niigata 951-8580, Japan. ichsasgw@ngt.ndu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sasagawa
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishiyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004658:Enamel Organ / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases