beta-Lumicolchicine as a tool to elucidate microtubular function in dentinogenesis

Early cellular events in an actinomycin D-created dentin niche in the rat incisor

Administration of actinomycin D at a dose level of 0.375 microgram/g resulted in the selective disruption of developing odontoblasts at a critical stage of morphogenesis. A dentin niche was formed which was later repaired by cellular reparative dentin. The cellular changes which resulted in dentin niche formation were studied histologically and ultrastructurally in serial longitudinal and transverse sections from tissues obtained 10 h to 80 h following injection of the drug. Five stages were identified: initial destruction (10-20 h), rapid destruction (30-40 h), debris removal (50-60 h), proliferation (60-80 h) and matrix deposition (post 80 h). The cellular changes found in the dental papilla were considerably different from those found in inflammation, resolution and repair of fibrous connective tissue. These early stages were dominated by apoptosis and heterophagy, and after 80 h by disordered dentin matrix formation. The three-dimensional morphology of the defect was reconstructed from serial sections. The shape of the niche was the result of interference by actinomycin D in the patterns of proliferation and migration of the cells in the apical region of the rat incisor tooth.

The effects of colchicine on prostaglandin I2 and thromboxane A2 biosynthesis in the rat dental pulp

Pulp tissues isolated from rats treated with either colchicine (0.5, 0.75 or 1.0 mg/kg) or beta-lumicolchicine (1.0 mg/kg) for 24 h were incubated in Tyrode buffer. Prostaglandin (PG) I2 and thromboxane (TX) A2 released into the medium were determined by radioimmunoassay as their stable metabolites, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2, respectively. Colchicine generally enhanced PGI2 and TXA2 production concomitantly with hypocalcaemia, except that 0.5 mg/kg dosage had no significant effects. This enhancement was greater in PGI2 than in TXA2 synthesis, but was not observed in PGI2 release from aortic tissue. beta-Lumicolchicine (1.0 mg/kg) had no effect on PG and TX synthesis, nor on serum calcium. Kinetic studies revealed that after a lag period of more than 12 h, 1.0 mg/kg colchicine caused a progressive increase in the production of PGI2 and TXA2, which reached a maximum at 24 h and decreased thereafter gradually to the basal level within 168 h (7 days). In contrast, the hypocalcaemic effect of colchicine appeared rapidly, reached a maximum within 3 h and gradually recovered to the control level within 7 days. Colchicine at concentrations of 1-1000 microM had no stimulatory effect on PGI2 and TXA2 biosynthesis when incubated in vitro with isolated pulp tissues; it was inhibitory at higher concentrations. The enhancing effect of colchicine treatment on PGI2 and TXA2 production in dental pulp tissue may be caused indirectly by interaction of this agent with microtubules, but the precise mechanisms are unclear. Thus, a drug known to affect dentinogenesis modifies arachidonic-acid metabolism in dental pulp.

Effects of methylmercury chloride on rat incisor odontoblasts and dentinogenesis

Methylmercury chloride, a well-known nerve cell toxicant, was administered to 40 rats in 2 groups, in doses of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg. Histomorphologic investigation of maxillary incisors after 2 and 4 days revealed granular and hydropic changes in parts of the odontoblastema. Deposition of interglobular dentin was seen after 7 and 11 days. The most vulnerable cells seemed to be the mantle dentin-producing odontoblasts, and the alterations found are probably due to interference with the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Influence of doxorubicin on rat incisor mesenchymal cells

Three groups of female Wistar rats were intravenously injected with the antineoplastic drug doxorubicin in a single dose of 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively. The animals were killed 1 and 5 days after injection. Paraffin and Vestopal W embedded sections were prepared of the maxillary right and left incisors, respectively, and evaluated by light microscopy. Doxorubicin produced necrosis of single cells, of small groups of cells in the basal pulp and destroyed the preodontoblasts as evaluated 1 day after injection. On the 5th day of observation, the late preodontoblasts and basal pulp had regenerated, but the early preodontoblast zone remained absent, leading to an abnormal odontogenesis. This caused a marked reduction of dentin deposition in the apical part of the tooth and production of irregular predentin by cells in the pulp and by the young odontoblasts.