[Culture and phenotype characteristics of mouse dental follicle cells].
OBJECTIVE
To establish a method for isolating and culturing mouse dental follicle cells and to study the phenotype characteristics of dental follicle cells.


METHODS
Mandibular first molars from 9 day old Balb/c mice were digested with 1% trypsin, subsequently, and the dental follicle was enucleated from the tooth germ and cultured. The shape and ultrastructural appearance of dental follicle cells were observed under phase-contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteopontin (OPN).


RESULTS
Three types of cells were isolated: some were cuboidal/polygonal; some were elongated, spindle-shaped, fibroblast-like cells; and a minor, third cell type was very thin and elongated. The cytoplasm of the first two cell types was filled with abundant granules. The cells were pleomorphism under SEM and had many filipodia and microvilli. According to whether there were filaments overlying the surface, the cells could be divided into two subtypes. Some but not all follicle cells expressed ALP, BSP and OPN.


CONCLUSIONS
The cultured dental follicle cells consisted of several cell phenotypes and had the potential of differentiating into cementoblasts, periodontal ligament fibroblasts and osteoblasts.
Ge
Shao-hua
SH
Dept. of Periodontology, School of Stomatology, Shandong Unitersity, Jinan 250012, China.
Yang
Pi-shan
PS
Zhao
Ning
N
Ling
Shu
S
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003739:Dental Cementum; D003795:Dental Sac; D005347:Fibroblasts; D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008963:Molar; D010006:Osteoblasts; D053495:Osteopontin; D010513:Periodontal Ligament; D010641:Phenotype; D014083:Tooth Germ
D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein; D053495:Osteopontin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase