Scanning electron microscopy of rat maturation ameloblasts. 1977

A Boyde, and E J Reith

Post-secretory, maturation-phase ameloblasts were studied by scanning electron microscopy of freeze-fractured or dry-dissected rat incisors. These cells are in contact with the enamel which they secreted at an earlier time and which undergoes a process of continuing mineralization. The lateral intercellular compartment between maturation ameloblasts is sometimes continuous with the intercellular space of the papillary layer of the enamel organ, but often closed by basal ring contacts which correspond to terminal bars seen in transmission electron microscopy. The distal poles of the cells sometimes possess striated borders. Lateral cell surfaces may show longitudinal gutter-like depressions between ridges from which numerous intercellular connections arise; or a maze of lateral folds and ridges; or they may have mostly microvillous surface projections bordering a minimal intercellular space compartment. Preliminary correlations of groupings of basal, lateral and distal cell features indicate that "basal-closed plus distal striated border" cells may show every type of lateral surface. Cell without a striated border, whether open or closed basally, have ridge or maze lateral surfaces bordering a wide intercellular compartment. "Basal-open plus striated border" cells have microvillous or maze-like surfaces. These combinations of features are encountered a few times along the length of the maturation zone of individual incisors and suggest tha existence of cyclical changes in the type of activity of maturation ameloblasts.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007365 Intercellular Junctions Direct contact of a cell with a neighboring cell. Most such junctions are too small to be resolved by light microscopy, but they can be visualized by conventional or freeze-fracture electron microscopy, both of which show that the interacting CELL MEMBRANE and often the underlying CYTOPLASM and the intervening EXTRACELLULAR SPACE are highly specialized in these regions. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p792) Cell Junctions,Cell Junction,Intercellular Junction,Junction, Cell,Junction, Intercellular,Junctions, Cell,Junctions, Intercellular
D008855 Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Microscopy in which the object is examined directly by an electron beam scanning the specimen point-by-point. The image is constructed by detecting the products of specimen interactions that are projected above the plane of the sample, such as backscattered electrons. Although SCANNING TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY also scans the specimen point by point with the electron beam, the image is constructed by detecting the electrons, or their interaction products that are transmitted through the sample plane, so that is a form of TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. Scanning Electron Microscopy,Electron Scanning Microscopy,Electron Microscopies, Scanning,Electron Microscopy, Scanning,Electron Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Electron Scanning,Microscopies, Scanning Electron,Microscopy, Electron Scanning,Microscopy, Scanning Electron,Scanning Electron Microscopies,Scanning Microscopies, Electron,Scanning Microscopy, Electron
D010507 Periodicity The tendency of a phenomenon to recur at regular intervals; in biological systems, the recurrence of certain activities (including hormonal, cellular, neural) may be annual, seasonal, monthly, daily, or more frequently (ultradian). Cyclicity,Rhythmicity,Biological Rhythms,Bioperiodicity,Biorhythms,Biological Rhythm,Bioperiodicities,Biorhythm,Cyclicities,Periodicities,Rhythm, Biological,Rhythmicities,Rhythms, Biological
D011554 Pseudopodia A dynamic actin-rich extension of the surface of an animal cell used for locomotion or prehension of food. Axopodia,Filopodia,Lamellipodia,Lobopodia,Microspikes, Cell Surface,Reticulopodia,Pseudopodium,Cell Surface Microspike,Cell Surface Microspikes,Lamellipodias,Microspike, Cell Surface,Surface Microspike, Cell,Surface Microspikes, Cell
D005110 Extracellular Space Interstitial space between cells, occupied by INTERSTITIAL FLUID as well as amorphous and fibrous substances. For organisms with a CELL WALL, the extracellular space includes everything outside of the CELL MEMBRANE including the PERIPLASM and the cell wall. Intercellular Space,Extracellular Spaces,Intercellular Spaces,Space, Extracellular,Space, Intercellular,Spaces, Extracellular,Spaces, Intercellular
D000565 Ameloblasts Cylindrical epithelial cells in the innermost layer of the ENAMEL ORGAN. Their functions include contribution to the development of the dentinoenamel junction by the deposition of a layer of the matrix, thus producing the foundation for the prisms (the structural units of the DENTAL ENAMEL), and production of the matrix for the enamel prisms and interprismatic substance. (From Jablonski's Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992) Ameloblast
D000566 Amelogenesis The elaboration of dental enamel by ameloblasts, beginning with its participation in the formation of the dentino-enamel junction to the production of the matrix for the enamel prisms and interprismatic substance. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992). Amelogeneses
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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