Inhibition of apoptosis in early tooth development alters tooth shape and size.
Apoptosis plays important roles in various stages of organogenesis. In this study, we hypothesized that apoptosis would play an important role in tooth morphogenesis. We examined the role of apoptosis in early tooth development by using a caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, concomitant with in vitro organ culture and tooth germ transplantation into the kidney capsule. Inhibition of apoptosis at the early cap stage did not disrupt the cell proliferation level when compared with controls. However, the macroscopic morphology of mice molar teeth exhibited dramatic alterations after the inhibition of apoptosis. Crown height was reduced, and mesiodistal diameter was increased in a concentration-dependent manner with z-VAD-fmk treatment. Overall, apoptosis in the enamel knot would be necessary for the proper formation of molar teeth, including appropriate shape and size.
Kim
J-Y
JY
Department of Oral Biology, Research Center for Orofacial Hard Tissue Regeneration, College of Dentistry, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei Center of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seodaemoon-Gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea.
Cha
Y-G
YG
Cho
S-W
SW
Kim
E-J
EJ
Lee
M-J
MJ
Lee
J-M
JM
Cai
J
J
Ohshima
H
H
Jung
H-S
HS
D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008963:Molar / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009811:Odontometry; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D014185:Transplantation, Isogeneic
D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; C096713:benzyloxycarbonylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl fluoromethyl ketone