Epithelial maturation and extracellular matrix in reduced enamel epithelium

Objective: To evaluate epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in morphological homeostasis through histologically orientated observations on the reduced enamel in epithelium. Study Design: Specimens were taken from impacted molar sites in 20 patients using the surgery. These were processed using standard histological, pathological and biochemical techniques. Slides were observed with a Nikon Eclipse E-600, Plan Apo piece, Microscopy, and photography was done using a Nikon Coolpix 990 digital camera. Results: Radiolucent lesions displayed the supporting fibrous connective tissue wall with stratified squamous epithelium lining mostly. None of the specimens displayed prominent CAM 5.2, and anti-human K7 reactivity, and PAS positive staining. Conclusion: While the results of this study suggest that the reduced enamel epithelium showed a lower tendency in cell cycle, it does indicate that a histologically oriented study of reduced enamel epithelium is needed for the understanding of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in morphogenesis.