In vitro culture and characterization of dental epithelial cells derived from the apical end of rat incisor / 实用口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the biological characteristics of dental epithelial cells derived from cervical-loop epithelium in rat lower incisor. Methods:The apical end of the lower incisor was dissected from two-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats by visual microscopy, and dental epithelial cells were obtained by culture of the apical end explants of the lower incisor. The biological characteristics of dental epithelial cells were determined by morphology and immunocytochemistry fluorescence. Results:Dental epithelial cells emigrated from the cervical loop of rat lower incisor, and epithelium-like morphologies with round-shape or square-shape was observed. Dental epithelial cells had a striking proliferation potential with a high level of BurdU labeling. As a marker of epithelium stem cells, P63 expression was observed in most early cultured cells. However, as cells were subcultured, dental epithelial cells,with the lower level of BurdU labeling,decreasing expression of P63 and increasing expression of alkaline phosphatase, were inclined to terminal differentiation.Conclusion:Stem cells or dental epithelial progenitor cells might reside in the cervical loop of the apical end of the rat lower incisor. The present study may provide an excellent cell source for study on the differentiation of dental epithelial cells and tooth regeneration.