Histology and microradiography of early post-natal molar tooth development in vitamin-D deficient rats.

The role of vitamin D on tooth-germ development was studied. The molars of vitamin D-deficient rats were compared with those of vitamin D-replete controls. The deficiency disturbed enamel and dentine mineralization and decreased their matrix secretion. Morphogenesis was affected; teeth were flattened and the whole of the epithelio-mesenchymal junction rippled. Where this irregularity was maximal, the inner dental epithelium and stratum intermedium were intermingled and the adjoining sub-odontoblast cells were mixed with poorly polarized odontoblasts. The cytodifferentiation of both central and sub-odontoblastic cells was inhibited. Thus vitamin D has a role in the early events of tooth development: morphogenesis, histodifferentiation and cytodifferentiation of pulp cells as well as in enamel and dentine mineralization.