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Minoru Wakita

Publications and source records attributed to Minoru Wakita.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Mineralization process during acellular cementogenesis in rat molars: a histochemical and immunohistochemical study using fresh-frozen sections.

This study was designed to detect tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) by Azo-dye staining, calcium by glyoxal bis (2-hydroxyanil) (GBHA) staining, bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteopontin (OPN) by immunoperoxidase staining in developing rat molars, and also to discuss the mineralization process during acellular cementogenesis. To restrain a reduction in histochemical and immunohistochemical reactions, fresh-frozen undemineralized sections were prepared. Where the epithelial sheath was intact, TNSALP reaction was observed in the dental follicle, but not in the epithelial sheath. With the onset of dentin mineralization, the BSP- and OPN-immunoreactive, initial cementum layer appeared. At this point, cementoblasts had shown intense TNSALP reaction and GBHA reactive particles (=calcium-GBHA complex) appeared on the root surface. With further development, the reaction of TNSALP and GBHA became weak on the root surface. Previous studies have shown that the initial cementum is fibril-poor and that matrix vesicles and calciferous spherules appear on the root surface only during the initial cementogenesis. The findings mentioned above suggest that: during the initial cementogenesis, cementoblasts release matrix vesicles which result in calciferous spherules, corresponding to the GBHA reactive particles. The calciferous spherules trigger the mineralization of the initial cementum. After principal fiber attachment, mineralization advances along collagen fibrils without matrix vesicles.

Aging↗
PubMed2005

Features of the clear zone of odontoclasts in the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).

This study aims to clarify the features of the clear zone of odontoclasts on shedding teeth of a teleost fish, Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), using a light microscope to determine the orientation between a cell body and a resorptive lacuna, followed by transmission electron microscopy. Ultrathin sections of LR White embedded material were incubated in rabbit anti-actin polyclonal antibody and then were incubated with 15 nm gold-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG. The clear zones of odontoclasts showed a variable structure with electron-dense structures on sections, but distinct clear zones were not always seen on odontoclasts. In odontoclasts sectioned in the direction perpendicularly to the surface of a resorptive lacuna, some cells showed a wide clear zone, but two types of clear zones were usually observed: a part composed of some cytoplasmic processes and one composed of several complicatedly interwoven processes. Gold particles were localized on the clear zones, especially in electron-dense structures; very few gold particles were detected in ruffled borders. These results show that the clear zone of odontoclasts in Chinook salmon contains actin. Our results suggest that the clear zone of an odontoclast in Chinook salmon is not always a wide annular structure.

Actins↗
PubMed2004

Odontoclasts in the Chinook salmon differ from mammalian odontoclasts by exhibiting a great proportion of cells with high nuclei number.

Odontoclasts resorbing teeth are multinucleated cells. Previously, the authors have investigated the distribution of number of nuclei per human odontoclast and showed that the mean number of nuclei per cell is 5.3, the median is 4, and 93.8% of cells have 10 or fewer nuclei. Teleost odontoclasts have features similar to those of mammals; however, the distribution of number of nuclei per cell remains unknown. The present study aimed to examine the distribution of number of nuclei per odontoclast in a teleost fish, Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), and to clarify the difference of number of nuclei in odontoclasts between Chinook salmon and humans. The maxillae and mandibles of Chinook salmon were fixed, decalcified, and embedded in Epon 812. Specimens were serially sectioned into 0.5-microm semithin sections and examined by light microscopy. Cells possessing a brush border adjacent to a resorptive lacuna were identified as odontoclasts, and 246 odontoclasts were investigated to determine the distribution of nuclei per cell. The mean number of nuclei per cell was 21.8 and the median was 17; only 24.4% of odontoclasts had 10 or fewer nuclei, and 95.5% had 50 or fewer nuclei. These results suggest that the range for the number of nuclei per odontoclast in Chinook salmon is greater than that in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Ultrastructural study of cell-cell interaction between osteoclasts and osteoblasts/stroma cells in vitro.

Many biochemical reports support cell-cell interaction between osteoclasts and osteoblasts/stroma cells in vitro, however there have been few morphological studies supporting this. Details of cell-cell interaction between osteoclasts and osteoblasts/stroma cells remain unclear. The present study examined cell-cell interaction between osteoclasts and osteoblasts/stroma cells by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Osteoclasts, osteoblasts/stroma cells, and bone marrow cells obtained from 10-day-old ddY mice were cultured on dentin slices for 72 hr. Specimens were fixed, and some were examined by SEM. Specimens were decalcified, embedded in Epon after determination of the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity (TRAP), and TRAP-positive cells for investigation were serially sectioned by alternating semithin and ultrathin sections, and then examined by TEM. By SEM, many cellular contacts were seen between the cells cultured on the dentin, but by TEM there were few special structures on the cell membranes between osteoclasts and osteoblasts/stroma cells, or between osteoclasts and bone marrow cells. A special structure on the cell membranes of osteoclasts was observed between an osteoclast and a cytoplasmic process of osteoblast/stroma cells, and this cell membrane was coated with electron dense or bristle-like structures. These bristle-like structures were very similar to those of coated pits. The present results show that the coated pit-like structure plays an important role in cell-cell interaction between osteoclasts and osteoblasts/stroma cells in vitro, and suggest that macromolecules binding to the osteoclast-surface receptor via ligands, accumulate in the coated pits, and enter the osteoclast as receptor-macromolecule complexes in endocytic vesicles.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A crown reconstructing method for resin-embedded transparent teeth.

OBJECTIVE: Resin-embedded transparent teeth are devoid of the original crown morphology, because enamel is lost by demineralization. This study was designed to reproduce artificial enamel and to reconstruct the original crown morphology for resin-embedded transparent teeth. METHOD AND MATERIALS: The impression of the coronal portion of human permanent teeth was taken with a silicone impression material. After demineralization, drawing ink was injected into the pulp cavities. The ink-infiltrated teeth were made transparent with methyl salicylate and embedded with polyester resin. Urethane prepolymer was injected into the impression, and the resin-embedded teeth were reinserted into the impression. After polymerization of the urethane resin, the specimens and the urethane resin were removed from the impression. RESULTS: The original crown morphology of the resin-embedded transparent teeth could be precisely reconstructed with artificial and removable enamel. The resin-embedded teeth showed morphologic details of the black-stained pulp cavities through the transparent dentin and cementum. CONCLUSION: This study established a crown reconstructing method for resin-embedded transparent teeth. The specimens will be useful for demonstration of morphology of teeth and pulp cavities.

Carbon↗