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Effects of genetic and environmental alterations on the birefringence of dental enamel organic matrix

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Author(s):
Alexandre Ribeiro do Espirito Santo
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Doctoral Thesis
Press: Piracicaba, SP.
Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Sergio Roberto Peres Line; Maria Luiza Ozores Polacow; Raquel Mantuaneli Scarel Caminaga; Jaime Aparecido Cury; Ricardo Della Coletta
Advisor: Sergio Roberto Peres Line
Abstract

Enamel covers dental crown and is the most mineralized structure in the vertebrate body. Its development begins with the secretion, processing and selfassembly of a complex mixture of proteins. The establishment of an ordered organic matrix seems to be a crucial step for the proper formation of enamel mineral phase. Polarizing microscopy shows that the secretory-stage enamel organic matrix (SEOM) is strongly birefringent in non-stained 5 µm-thick sections. This property indicates high level of molecular organization, which may be physiologically important. Changes in SEOM birefringence brightness may reflect molecular disorders and may be associated with alterations in the forming enamel mineral phase. Delay in fixation of SEOM may lead to rapid loss of birefringence, impairing analysis of that tissue with polarized light microscopy. In the present work, we analyzed the effects of Amelx and Mmp20 knocking out (experiment 1), bisphosphonates (experiment 2) and metallo and serine proteinases¿ inhibitors (experiment 3) on SEOM birefringence. Experiment 1 showed that Amelx+/- female mice exhibit a significant reduction in the birefringence brightness when compared to Amelx+/+ female animals. (p=0.0029). The SEOM from Amelx-/- female mice did not show birefringence. Mmp20-/- mice presented an expressive reduction in the optical retardation values in comparison to Mmp20+/+ and Mmp20+/- animals (p=0.0000). Mmp20+/+ and Mmp20+/- mice presented similar birefringence (p=1.0000). Experiment 2 showed that rats treated with sodium alendronate do not present morphological alterations in the SEOM, but exhibit significant decrease in the birefringence brightness when compared to control rats (p<0.01). Interestingly, bisodic etidronate rats showed severe morphological alterations in the SEOM, but exhibited SEOM birefringence brightness similar to that observed in control rats (p>0.05). Experiment 3 evidenced that 1,10-phenanthroline (metalloproteinase inhibitor) and phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (serine proteinase inhibitor) preserve SEOM birefringence brightness ex vivo. The results presented here support the following conclusions: 1) SEOM birefringence results from amelogenin supramolecular organization and is influenced by proteolytic activity of Mmp20; 2) sodium alendronate can induce quantitative changes in the supramolecular organization of the SEOM; 3) bisodic etidronate does not disturb molecular order of the secreted enamel organic matrix and may induce changes in mature enamel by affecting directly secretory activity of ameloblasts; 4) rapid loss of birefringence in no immediately fixed SEOM is caused by the activity of enamel proteinases. Key Words: Dental enamel, Birefringence, Bisphosphonates, Phenanthroline, Phenylmethylsulphonyl Fluoride (AU)

FAPESP's process: 04/13255-8 - Effects of genetic and environmental alterations on the birefringence of dental enamel organic matrix
Grantee:Alexandre Ribeiro do Espírito Santo
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate