Homologous and Heterologous Intraocular Growth of Transplanted Tooth Germs

Abstract

Tooth germs retained a capacity for growth, differentiation and development when homoplastically or heteroplastically transplanted to the anterior eye chambers of guinea pigs and rabbits. However, in mice, homotransplants of tooth germs showed a rapid degeneration in the anterior chamber, but showed growth and development in the axillae and brains. After 30-40 days transplants usually began to appear less vascular and smaller. Over longer periods a revision gradually took place whereby the calcified tooth structures were replaced with an osteoid tissue. Odontoblasts generally and ameloblasts less frequently, when separated from each other, appeared capable of continued development with the formation of mature tooth structures. Growth was always confined to the anterior chamber of the eye. Rabbit homotransplants grew most rapidly and gave the best results. Human transplants of tooth germs grew better in guinea pigs than rabbits. The fact that tooth germs will survive intraocular transfer offers a new approach to further studies of their growth and development.