THE ARRANGEMENT OF AMELOBLASTS ON THE SURFACE OF MATURING ENAMEL OF THE RAT INCISOR TOOTH

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 133  (OCT) , 381-388
Abstract
The location of striated border cells and non-striated border cells during enamel maturation in the rat incisor tooth was studied with the light microscope. Serial cross sections of the lower incisors were examined from a segment of the incisor in sections which also included the 1st molar tooth. Every section in the series showed both striated and non-striated border cells. Striated border cells occupied more of the tooth surface than non-striated border cells. A map showing the distribution of cells on the enamel surface as plotted from their position in each of the cross sections reveals that the non-striated border cells traverse the enamel as oblique bands which are oriented about 40.degree. off the long axis of the tooth. Between the narrow bands of non-striated border cells were wide bands of striated border cells. The non-striated border cells were joined at their basal (nuclear) poles by contacts which appeared to separate the lateral inter-ameloblast space from the space between the papillary-ridge cells. Neither the striated border cells nor the non-striated border cells went entirely to the edge of the enamel organ. The oblique bands of striated border cells and non-striated border cells are regarded to be an indication of the cyclical activity of maturating ameloblasts.