Alkaline-Phosphatase Activity in Developing Molars of Vitamin D-deficient Rats. I. High Calcium-Phosphorus Ratio Diet

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the role of alkaline phosphatase in the developing molars of the offspring of rats fed the Steenbock rachitogenic diet (Ca:P ratio 4-5:1). All the animals in the experimental group showed a considerable decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity as compared to controls. This was correlated with already known organic changes (polysaccharides) in the developing dental matrices of rachitic rats. The observation of alkaline phosphatase activity coinciding with differentiation of odontoblasts should also be added. The present findings suggest that alkaline phosphatase may play a role in protein manufacture (organic phase of calcifiable matrices), as well as in cell differentiation.