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- Title
Miniaturization: How many cells are needed to build a tooth?
- Authors
Larionova, Daria; Lesot, Hervé; Huysseune, Ann
- Abstract
Background: Organs that develop early in life, and are replaced by a larger version as the animal grows, often represent a miniature version of the adult organ. Teeth constituting the first functional dentition in small‐sized teleost fish, such as medaka (Oryzias latipes), are examples of such miniature organs. With a dentin cone as small as the size of one human cell, or even smaller, these teeth raise the question how many dentin‐producing cells (odontoblasts) are required to build such a tooth, and whether this number can be as little as one. Results: Based on detailed observations with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and TEM‐based 3D‐reconstructions, we show that only one mesenchymal cell qualifies as a true odontoblast. A second mesenchymal cell potentially participates in dentin formation, but only at a late stage of tooth development. Moreover, the fate of these cells appears to be specified very early during tooth development. Conclusions: Our observations indicate that in this system, one single odontoblast fulfills roles normally exerted by a large and communicating cell population. First‐generation teeth in medaka thus provide an exciting model to study integration of multiple functions into a single cell. Key Findings: With a size of one human cell, medaka first‐generation teeth are an example of extreme miniaturization of a vertebrate organ.Only one single cell qualifies as true dentin‐producing cell, fulfilling roles normally exerted by a large and communicating cell population.First‐generation teeth in medaka thus provide an exciting model to study integration of multiple functions into a single cell.
- Subjects
DENTITION; ORYZIAS latipes; TEETH; TRANSMISSION electron microscopy; DENTIN
- Publication
Developmental Dynamics, 2021, Vol 250, Issue 7, p1021
- ISSN
1058-8388
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/dvdy.300