The early mineralization of enamel. Fine structural observations on the cellular localization of calcium with the potassium pyroantimonate technique

The potassium pyronatimonate technique was used to study the cellular distribution of calcium during the early mineralization of enamel in rat molar tooth germs at the electron microscope level. Differing patterns of calcium distribution were observed in the ameloblast seemingly associated with the appearance of Tomes' process. In the early secretory ameloblast calcium pyroantimonate deposits were observed within the Golgi apparatus, within coated vesicles, within mitochondria and associated with the inner aspect of the cell membrane. However, with the development of Tomes' process the ameloblast no longer demonstrated these discrete deposits of calcium pyroantimonate. Instead they showed a diffuse cytoplasmic staining pattern with no preference for any particular organelle.