Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026
04:07
Isolation of Epithelial Cells from Human Dental Follicle
Published on: November 5, 2021
2.6K
Hertwig's epithelial root sheath cell behavior during initial acellular cementogenesis in rat molars
Tsuneyuki Yamamoto1, Tomomaya Yamamoto, Tamaki Yamada
1Department of Developmental Biology of Hard Tissue, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Kita 13 Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8586, Japan, yamatsu@den.hokudai.ac.jp.
Histochemistry and Cell Biology
|May 27, 2014
Summary
This study investigated acellular cementum development in rat molars. Findings indicate cementoblasts originate from the dental follicle, not from epithelial sheath cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Dental Research
Background:
- Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) plays a crucial role in root development.
- The origin of cementoblasts, cells responsible for cementum formation, has been debated.
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a potential mechanism for cell differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the disintegration process of HERS during acellular cementogenesis in rat molars.
- To determine if HERS cells transform into cementoblasts via EMT.
- To elucidate the cellular origins of cementoblasts.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was employed to analyze protein expression in developing rat molars.
- Antibodies against matrix proteinases were used to assess proteolytic activity.
- Markers for EMT, such as tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNALP) and keratin, were utilized.
Main Results:
- HERS disintegration was found to be enzymatically mediated.
- Epithelial sheath cells showed enzymatic activity but lacked markers indicative of EMT.
- Cementoblasts and dental follicle cells exhibited TNALP immunoreactivity, suggesting their origin.
- Cells with combined keratin and TNALP expression were absent, refuting HERS cell EMT.
Conclusions:
- Epithelial sheath cells do not undergo EMT to become cementoblasts during initial acellular cementogenesis.
- Cementoblasts are derived from the dental follicle, not from HERS cells.
- This study clarifies the cellular source of cementoblasts in molar development.
