title: Comparative stereologic study between secretory and maturation ameloblasts in rat incisors.
abstract: The ameloblasts both in secretion phase and in smooth-ended ameloblasts in maturation phase were studied using stereologic methods in transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From secretion to maturation phase of amelogenesis, the nucleus volume decreased 23% and cytoplasm volume did not show significant changes; the total volume and surface of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) decreased 74% and 90%, respectively, and of the mitochondria increased 742% and 384%, respectively; the surface-to-volume ratio for RER and mitochondria decrease 59% and 42%, respectively; and the predominantly apical secretory granules disappeared joined at Tomes process and lysosomes and phagic vacuoles have appeared principly in supranuclear cytoplasm. Although significant morphologic variation occurs from the secretory to the maturation phase of the ameloblasts, their cytoplasm volume remains unaltered.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia, Faculdade de Odontologia, USP.
authors.forename: Gerson Francisco de
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.forename: Daniel Araki
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Patrícia Danieli
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Tania Mary
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Cestari
authors.forename: Rumio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taga