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Effects of vitamin A deficiency on rat incisor formation
Author(s) -
Punyasingh J. T.,
Hoffman S.,
Harris S. S.,
Navia J. M.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1984.tb01399.x
Subject(s) - odontoblast , pulp (tooth) , vitamin a deficiency , retinoic acid , dentinogenesis , vitamin , endocrinology , medicine , retinol , biology , pathology , biochemistry , gene
Vitamin A deficiency (A–) is known to cause morphologic changes in tooth structures. However, its effects on glycosaminoglycan (GAG) distribution in dental pulp, and the role of retinoic acid (RA) in altering these effects arc not clearly defined. Tissue changes induced by vitamin A deficiency and RA administration were evaluated histologically in incisors of rats fed on one of 3 different diets: a) vitamin A sufficient (A +); b) vitamin A deficient (A–); and c) vitamin A deficient supplemented with retinoic acid (A–/RA). Four weeks after the onset of vitamin A deficiency, all rats were killed and their 4 continuously erupting incisors evaluated histologically. A–rats had altered dentine and pulp with disrupted histodifferentiation of pulpal mesenchymal cells to normal odontoblasts. The frequency of these abnormalities in dentine and pulp was lower in A–/RA rats. The enamel organ was unremarkable in the 4‐week deficient period. Using special stains, we noted that pulpal GAG accumulation in A– and A–/RA rats was limited to the lingual area, while in A+ rats, GAG were distributed throughout. These data suggest that vitamin A deficiency affects histodifferentiation of pulpal mesenchymal cells to odontoblasts, as well as GAG distribution in pulp. RA administration reduces the A– changes and therefore, appears lo have some activity in dentinogenesis.