Morphological study of the teeth of Ambystoma maculatum, Salamandra salamandra and Aneides lugubris: fine structure and chemistry of enamel.

Abstract

The functional teeth of adult salamander (Caudata): Ambystoma maculatum, Salamandra salamandra and Aneides lugubris were prepared for transmission electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis of the elements and trace elements of the enamel layer. The arrangement of enamel crystals in these species is variable. The outer part of the enamel layer in which hydroxyapatite elements (Ca, P) and trace elements (e.g., F, Fe, Mg) are concentrated, is most mineralized. The concentration of trace elements are arrangement of crystals in the enamel layer differed in these species, may be related to the pattern of mineralization of enamel.