Abstract
Distribution of α-tubulin in rat-incisor odontoblasts and ameloblasts was observed by means of the immunohistochemical method. Wistar rats were fixed by perfusion with formalin solution or glutar-paraformaldehyde, and their incisors were dissected out, demineralized with either a solution of formic-acid formalin or EDTA, and prepared into 3μm-thick paraffin sections. The sections were incubated with a primary antibody (an anti-α-tubulin mouse monoclonal antibody) and then with a secondary antibody (a horseradish peroxidase-labeled sheep antimouse antibody).Intense and homogeneous α-tubulin immunostaining occurred in the cytoplasm of odontoblasts, inner enamel epithelial cells, and ameloblasts. In the odontoblast processes, however, the staining decreased gradually until it disappeared at a certain level in the dentin. The intense staining was noticed in the distal portions and Tomes' processes of differentiating and secreting ameloblasts. The staining generally decreased in the ameloblasts at an early stage of enamel maturation, and the cells frequently showed either slight or no staining. In reduced ameloblasts, the staining increased and returned to the level of the inner enamel epithelial cells.These results suggest that changes in their α-tubulin distribution reflect functional and morphological changes in odontoblasts and ameloblasts.
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