Mouse Embryonic Tooth Germ Dissection and Ex vivo Culture Protocol
Xue Han,
Keigo Yoshizaki,
Tian Tian,
Kanako Miyazaki,
Ichiro Takahashi,
Satoshi Fukumoto
Affiliations
Xue Han
Section of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Division of Oral Health, Growth and Development, Kyushu University Faculty of Dental Science, Fukuoka, Japan
Keigo Yoshizaki
Section of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Division of Oral Health, Growth and Development, Kyushu University Faculty of Dental Science, Fukuoka, Japan
Tian Tian
Section of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Division of Oral Health, Growth and Development, Kyushu University Faculty of Dental Science, Fukuoka, Japan
Kanako Miyazaki
Section of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Division of Oral Health, Growth and Development, Kyushu University Faculty of Dental Science, Fukuoka, Japan
Ichiro Takahashi
Section of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Division of Oral Health, Growth and Development, Kyushu University Faculty of Dental Science, Fukuoka, Japan
Satoshi Fukumoto
Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Oral Health and Development Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, JapanSection of Pediatric dentistry, Division of Oral Health, Growth and Development, Kyushu University Faculty of Dental Science, Fukuoka, Japan
A tooth germ ex vivo organ culture allows visualization of its development in different stages, thus enabling investigation of the molecular mechanisms of regulatory factors. Tooth germs can be rapidly dissected from E13 mouse embryos and placed on cell culture inserts for observation of subsequent tooth germ development in a three-dimensional situation in real time. This method is also suitable for other organs that develop by epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, including salivary gland, hair, lung, and kidney. In addition, siRNAs or growth factors can be easily added to ex vivo tooth germ cultures to investigate the detailed molecular function of specific genes. The present protocol provides an efficient and practical method for isolation and ex vivo culture of embryonic tooth germs.
