New Scientist reports: [edited]
A Japanese team has successfully grown replacement teeth and implanted them into the mouths of adult mice, suggesting that a similar technique could replace missing teeth in humans.
Takashi Tsuji, at the Tokyo University of Science, took single-tooth mesenchymal and epithelial cells – the two cell types that develop into a tooth – from mouse embryos. They stimulated these cells to multiply before injecting them into a drop of collagen gel. Within days, the cells formed tooth buds – the early stage of normal tooth formation.
The team then transplanted these tooth buds into cavities left after they had extracted teeth from adult mice. There, they developed into teeth with a normal structure and composition. The engineered teeth also developed a healthy blood supply, and nerve connections.
Since mesenchymal and epithelial cells have the potential to develop into other organs and hair follicles, Tsuji hopes his method could eventually be applied more widely. “We hope to collaborate with dentists and clinicians in various fields to develop artificial organs for people,” he says.
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5 comments:
It's me! *blushes*
'tis... and such a BEAUTIFUL smile as well!
Would be great if they could help me grow a new tooth...
Would probably cause people (in the more distant future) not be less bothered about their teeth though "Eh, so what if I don't brush my teeth? My dentist will give me a new set for £xx" (replace 'xx' with a suitable number...)
Likely a very high number!
Coel - I said in the futuuuurrrrrrrre! Everything costs less in the future!
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