[In vitro cultivation of tooth germs (in mice)]

Mouse molars tooth buds on the bell stage were cultured, to investigate the best medium for their maintainance and their eventual clinical use. Tooth germs were cultivated during 3 to 8 days in three different medium: Eagle basal medium (liquid medium), agar-solidified medium and chick chorioallantoic membrane. The grafts were examined by light microscopy. Mesenchymal and atypical cells were counted in experimental and control groups. Our results showed that liquid medium was the best for 3-days buds cultures. Chorioallantoic membrane and agar-solidified medium showed better results for the maintainance of bud cultures for 8-day test. The objective of this study is to maintain in vitro tooth buds cultures for future transplants. This will also provide for the possibility of a more in-depth study of normal odontogenesis.