Ultrastructural differentiation in the distal ends of ameloblasts from the presecretory zone to the early secretory zone

Morphological differentiation of the distal ends of ameloblasts (AMs) from the late presecretory to early secretory zones of the rat upper incisor was studied by electron microscopy. Preameloblasts (PAs) showed a high columnar shape, with the nucleus located in the basal portion. The Golgi apparatus occupied the supranuclear region with type-1 vesicles, and microvilli were present at the distal cell membrane. Coarse-textured material was observed inside the type-1 vesicles and in the lateral intercellular spaces as well as along the distal cell membrane, whereas fine-textured material was found along the distal cell membrane. Near the region of initial enamel formation, large matrix islands were found in the lateral intercellular space. A thin electron-dense layer was observed on the dentin surface. This layer might have occurred as a result of diffusion after degradation of the coarse- or fine-textured material into a finer substance in the extracellular spaces. In the region of initial enamel formation, the distal cell membrane of AMs was flat, but shallow and narrow membrane invaginations were associated with the cell membrane close to the matrix islands. In the region of inner enamel formation, a cone-shaped Tomes' process was formed between large matrix islands which had developed in the intercellular spaces between the lateral portions of the distal ends of AMs. It was considered that the membrane invaginations which had existed at the distal end of PAs moved lower toward the distal terminal bar, thereafter becoming microvilli.