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Micro-dissection of Enamel Organ from Mandibular Incisor of Rats Exposed to Environmental Toxicants
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Effects of Early Life Adversity on Tooth Enamel Formation
Ida C Shaffer1, Yukiko Nakano1, Aidan Pham2
1Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.
Frontiers in Dental Medicine
|April 10, 2023
Summary
Early life adversity (ELA) in mice impacts developing enamel, altering gene expression and mineralization. These changes suggest enamel can serve as a biomarker for early developmental stress.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Toxicology
- Biomaterials science
Background:
- Environmental stress impacts organ systems, complicating the identification of toxic exposures, especially during early development.
- Primary teeth may offer historical records of early life stressors.
- Early life adversity (ELA) can have lasting effects on development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular and structural effects of ELA on enamel formation using a mouse model.
- To assess changes in enamel organ gene expression and enamel matrix mineralization following ELA.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a limited bedding and nesting (LBN) mouse model to induce ELA.
- Analyzed enamel organ gene expression via RNA sequencing (RNAseq).
- Assessed enamel matrix mineralization and structure using comparative analysis.
Main Results:
- ELA mice exhibited reduced body weight and molar enamel volume, with increased relative mineral density.
- RNAseq revealed significant alterations in extracellular matrix organization (GO, Reactome) and butanoate metabolism (KEGG).
- Key enamel matrix protein genes (Amelx, Enam) and regulatory genes (Dlx3, Per1, Nrd1) showed differential expression.
Conclusions:
- The developing enamel organ is sensitive to ELA, producing molecular and structural biomarkers.
- Enamel alterations may serve as indicators of early developmental stress and toxic exposures.
- Findings support the use of dental tissues for retrospective analysis of early life adversity.
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