Action of 5-bromodeoxyuridine on tooth germs "in vitro". II. - Effects on collagen synthesis

The first lower molar tooth germs removed from 16-day-old mouse embryos were cultured for 2 days on a standard medium and then for 24 hours on the same medium containing BrdU (treated tooth germs) or not (controls). We attempted to study the effects of 5-Bromodeoxyuridine on the type I and type III collagen synthesis 24 (stage 16 + 4) and 72 (stage 16 + 6) hours after the incorporation of this thymidine analogue. At stage 16 + 4, type I and type III collagen were synthesized both in control and BrdU-treated tooth germs. However BrdU induced quantitative modifications in the type I collagen synthesis which might be explained by modifications in the turnover of this type of collagen. At stage 16 + 6, the BrdU treatment resulted in the inhibition of the terminal differentiation of odontoblasts. Consequently, the normal amplification of collagen type I synthesis could not occur. However, both control and BrdU-treated tooth germs synthesized type I and type III collagen. Quantitatively, the synthesis of type III collagen was slightly affected by BrdU treatment.