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Further evidence on the presence of dentino-enamel cuticle in adult human teeth
Oral Anatomy and Histology FURTHER EVIDENCE ON THE PRESENCE OF DENTINO-ENAMEL CUTICLE IN ADULT HUMAN TEETH VICTORINO
G. VILLA, D.D.S., M.S.D., MANILA, PHILIPPINES
N 1949 I1 reported the presence of an organic structure between the enamel and dentine which I designated as the dentino-enamel cuticle. Schour” has incorporated this finding in his recent book on oral hisbology and embryology. Helmcke (1953)) as cited by Euler,3 was not able to observe a “limiting memIt is likely that the dentino-enamel brane” in the amelodentinal junction.
I
A.
Fig.
1.-A,
Decalcified longitudinal
E.
section of a molar showinp a cusp portion.
EM,
Enamel matrix: DEC, dentino-enamel cuticle: DN, dentine: ccrt, artifact: rc. narrow area of the matrix which did not take the stain well. Gram stain, Hucker modification. ( MagniAcation, xl20 ; reduced $6. ) B, Higher magnification. EM, Enamel matrix; DEC, dentino-enamel cuticle; UN, dentine: a, portion of the enamel matrix which did not take the stain well. (Magnification, X500 ; reduced l/6.) _From the Department of Oral Histology and Pathology, College of Dentistry, University
of the Philippines.
1315
cuticle is calcified in a similar manner as the primary enamel cuticle;’ hence, its presence as a form of uncalcified 01*panic momhrane could not be det,ected. The present report deals with some observation which may be considered as additional evidence on the p~sence 01 :I dentino-enamel cuticle at. t,he dentinoenamel junction. Fig.
2.
Fig.
3.
Fig. 2.-Decalcified longitudinal section of a molar showing a portion of the coronal dentine. Note that the enamel matrix has been lost during histologic preparation. DEC, Den(Magnification, X 500 ; tine-enamel cuticle ; DN, dentine. Gram stain, Hucker modification. reduced $6,) Fig. 3.-Decalcified horizontal section of the CI’CIWD of a molar. ET, Enamel tuft; EA!!, enaincl matrix ; DEC, dentin+enamel cuticle ; UN, dentine. Note that some peripheral portion of the enamel matrix has been lost during histologic preparation. Gram stain, Hucker modiAcation. (Magnification, X5CO ; reduced I& )
Materials and Findings For study, decalcified sections from different, carious teeth have been used. They were stained with Crram’s method, Hucker’s modification.
DESTINO-ENAMEL
CUTICLE
IN
ADULT
HUMAN
1317
TEETH
Fig. 1, A is a longitudinal section of a molar showing a portion of the cusp. It may be noticed that the dentino-enamel cuticle is prominently shown lining the scalloped surface of the dentine. Generally, the cuticle takes a bright pink color with Gram’s stain, similar to the secondary enamel cuticle in hematosplin-eosin stain. It may be noticed that a narrow area of the enamel matrix close to the cuticle marked (1.seems to have a different tinctorial reaction from the rest of the enamel matrix. Fig. 1, B is a higher magnification showing the Its thickness appea L’S dentino-enamel cuticle as a distinct organic structure. to be not uniform. In Fig. 2 is another section, showing the canticle t)o he firmly att,ached to the dentine surface. In spite of t,he fact that the enamel matrix has been detached or lost during histologic preparation, the cut,icle remains lining the scallops on the dentine surface. Fig. 3 shows a horizontal section of the crown of another tooth specimen. It may be noticed that two neighboring enamel tufts appear to be a continuation of the dentino-enamel cut,icle into the substance of the enamel. It would seem t,hat the enamel tufts are not ribbons of hypocalcified enamel rods and interrod substance, as generally believed at present.
Comment From the foregoing findings, there seems to be no doubt that an organic structure, designated as the dentino-enamel cuticle, is present between the enamel and dentine in human adult teeth. The cuticle is better shown in sections stained with Gram stain, Hucker modification, than in hematosylineosin st,ain. It appears that the cuticle constitutes the biggest bulk of organic matter in the dentino-enamel junction. It is shown that the so-called enamel tuft seems to be a continuation of the dentino-enamel cuticle into the substance of the enamel. This condition seems to support our view, still unpublished, that enamel tufts are sections of a. membranous structure dividing the enamel into several bundles of enamel rods and int,errod substance. Each bundle rests on each scallop on the dentine surface.
References Villa,
V. G.: 565,
&hour,
I. :
p. 113. Euler,
Ikntino-Enamel
Cuticle
Present
in Adult
Human
Teeth? J. 1). Rep. 28:
1949.
Noyes’
Oral
Histology
and Embryology,
H.: Recent Development in the Normal Teeth, Int. D. J. 4: 789, 1954. Kronfeld, R. : Dental Histology and Comparative Lea & Febiger, p. 24.
Philadelphia, and Pathological Dental
Anatomy,
1953, Lea & Fehiger, Histology Philadelphia,
of
the 1937,
G. VILLA, D.D.S., M.S.D., MANILA, PHILIPPINES
N 1949 I1 reported the presence of an organic structure between the enamel and dentine which I designated as the dentino-enamel cuticle. Schour” has incorporated this finding in his recent book on oral hisbology and embryology. Helmcke (1953)) as cited by Euler,3 was not able to observe a “limiting memIt is likely that the dentino-enamel brane” in the amelodentinal junction.
I
A.
Fig.
1.-A,
Decalcified longitudinal
E.
section of a molar showinp a cusp portion.
EM,
Enamel matrix: DEC, dentino-enamel cuticle: DN, dentine: ccrt, artifact: rc. narrow area of the matrix which did not take the stain well. Gram stain, Hucker modification. ( MagniAcation, xl20 ; reduced $6. ) B, Higher magnification. EM, Enamel matrix; DEC, dentino-enamel cuticle; UN, dentine: a, portion of the enamel matrix which did not take the stain well. (Magnification, X500 ; reduced l/6.) _From the Department of Oral Histology and Pathology, College of Dentistry, University
of the Philippines.
1315
cuticle is calcified in a similar manner as the primary enamel cuticle;’ hence, its presence as a form of uncalcified 01*panic momhrane could not be det,ected. The present report deals with some observation which may be considered as additional evidence on the p~sence 01 :I dentino-enamel cuticle at. t,he dentinoenamel junction. Fig.
2.
Fig.
3.
Fig. 2.-Decalcified longitudinal section of a molar showing a portion of the coronal dentine. Note that the enamel matrix has been lost during histologic preparation. DEC, Den(Magnification, X 500 ; tine-enamel cuticle ; DN, dentine. Gram stain, Hucker modification. reduced $6,) Fig. 3.-Decalcified horizontal section of the CI’CIWD of a molar. ET, Enamel tuft; EA!!, enaincl matrix ; DEC, dentin+enamel cuticle ; UN, dentine. Note that some peripheral portion of the enamel matrix has been lost during histologic preparation. Gram stain, Hucker modiAcation. (Magnification, X5CO ; reduced I& )
Materials and Findings For study, decalcified sections from different, carious teeth have been used. They were stained with Crram’s method, Hucker’s modification.
DESTINO-ENAMEL
CUTICLE
IN
ADULT
HUMAN
1317
TEETH
Fig. 1, A is a longitudinal section of a molar showing a portion of the cusp. It may be noticed that the dentino-enamel cuticle is prominently shown lining the scalloped surface of the dentine. Generally, the cuticle takes a bright pink color with Gram’s stain, similar to the secondary enamel cuticle in hematosplin-eosin stain. It may be noticed that a narrow area of the enamel matrix close to the cuticle marked (1.seems to have a different tinctorial reaction from the rest of the enamel matrix. Fig. 1, B is a higher magnification showing the Its thickness appea L’S dentino-enamel cuticle as a distinct organic structure. to be not uniform. In Fig. 2 is another section, showing the canticle t)o he firmly att,ached to the dentine surface. In spite of t,he fact that the enamel matrix has been detached or lost during histologic preparation, the cut,icle remains lining the scallops on the dentine surface. Fig. 3 shows a horizontal section of the crown of another tooth specimen. It may be noticed that two neighboring enamel tufts appear to be a continuation of the dentino-enamel cut,icle into the substance of the enamel. It would seem t,hat the enamel tufts are not ribbons of hypocalcified enamel rods and interrod substance, as generally believed at present.
Comment From the foregoing findings, there seems to be no doubt that an organic structure, designated as the dentino-enamel cuticle, is present between the enamel and dentine in human adult teeth. The cuticle is better shown in sections stained with Gram stain, Hucker modification, than in hematosylineosin st,ain. It appears that the cuticle constitutes the biggest bulk of organic matter in the dentino-enamel junction. It is shown that the so-called enamel tuft seems to be a continuation of the dentino-enamel cuticle into the substance of the enamel. This condition seems to support our view, still unpublished, that enamel tufts are sections of a. membranous structure dividing the enamel into several bundles of enamel rods and int,errod substance. Each bundle rests on each scallop on the dentine surface.
References Villa,
V. G.: 565,
&hour,
I. :
p. 113. Euler,
Ikntino-Enamel
Cuticle
Present
in Adult
Human
Teeth? J. 1). Rep. 28:
1949.
Noyes’
Oral
Histology
and Embryology,
H.: Recent Development in the Normal Teeth, Int. D. J. 4: 789, 1954. Kronfeld, R. : Dental Histology and Comparative Lea & Febiger, p. 24.
Philadelphia, and Pathological Dental
Anatomy,
1953, Lea & Fehiger, Histology Philadelphia,
of
the 1937,