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Morphology of the Dentin Structure of Sloths B radypus tridactylus : A Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy Investigation
Author(s) -
Santana L. N. S.,
Barbosa L. V. M.,
Teixeira F. B.,
Costa A. M. P.,
Fernandes L. M. P.,
Lima R. R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
anatomia, histologia, embryologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1439-0264
pISSN - 0340-2096
DOI - 10.1111/ahe.12029
Subject(s) - scanning electron microscope , dentin , morphology (biology) , dentinal tubule , microscopy , sloth , electron microscope , chemistry , anatomy , materials science , biology , composite material , pathology , zoology , paleontology , medicine , physics , optics
Summary The aim of this study was to describe the dentine morphology of sloths ( B radypus tridactylus ). The sloth teeth were removed and prepared for light microscopy ( LM ) and scanning electron microscopy analyses ( SEM ). LM revealed two patterns of tubular dentins: an outer with dentinary tubules over the all tooth length and one in the inner part with larger diameter and more spaced tubules, when compared to those present in the outer dentine. These findings were confirmed by SEM , which revealed a tubular pattern in the outer dentine like in humans. The inner dentine displayed pared grouped tubules that were characterized as vascular channels. It can be concluded that this sloth species present two types of dentins: an inner dentin (ortodentin) and an outer dentin characterized as a vascular dentin. This suggests a partial evolutive/adaptive process of this dental tissue, as compared to other mammalian species.