Demonstration of enamel matrix proteins on root-analogue surfaces of rabbit permanent incisor teeth

The continuously erupting rabbit incisor tooth is normally thought of as having an enamel covered "crown" on its labial surface and a cementum covered "root" on its lingual surface. We have examined both surfaces of continuously erupting rabbit incisor teeth taken from near term embryos by a variety of means, including transmission and scanning electron microscopy, biochemical fractionation, and immunohistochemistry. In all cases, we could detect no qualitative difference in the early extracellular matrices taken from the labial and lingual surfaces of the teeth. Both matrices were shown to be composed of dentin and enamel, although the thickness and geometry of the enamel matrix on the lingual surface was somewhat different from that on the labial surface.