An immunohistochemical study on human foetal tooth germ

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate c-Met expression in human tooth germ development.MATERIAL AND METHODS: An immunohistochemical study, on c-Met expression in tooth germs of 8 human foetus between the 7th and 9th week, was conduced.RESULTS: In the Bud stage C-Met immunopositivity was, moderately to strongly, detected in dental papilla, both in the inner and the outer epithelium of the enamel organ. In particular, moderate staining was detected in a specific portion of tooth germs that corresponds to the tip of the enamel organ. In the Bell stage tooth germs were characterized by much stronger c-Met immunopositivity in cytoplasm, inner enamel epithelium, bilateral cusps and above all in the plasma apical membrane on the mesenchymal side. CONCLUSION: In conclusion because enamel organ cells can interact with mesenchymal cells directly, and c-Met is expressed in the stages at which mesenchymal induction is guided by the dental epithelium, it is conceivable that c-Met is related to tooth germ morphogenesis and cell differentiation.