Histochemical Studies of Esterase Activity in the Developing Teeth

Abstract

The histochemical demonstration of esterase was made in the developing tooth of the rat by using principally both the simultaneous coupling azo-dye method employed various naphthyl compounds as the substrate and the indigo blue method employed 5-bromoindoxyl acetate.
1. The localization of esterase in the developing tooth showed a high activity in the odontoblasts, ameloblasts, calcifying dental hard tissues and alveolar bone, and only a very slight activity in the pulp adjacent to the odontoblasts and reduced enamel organ. Thus esterase activity has shown the analogous distribution and localizalion to those of acid phosphatase.
2. The simultaneous coupling azo-dye method employed various naphthyl compounds as the substrates showed a similar localization of esterase activity to that by the use of 5-bromoindoxyl acetate method in the developing tooth and bone, however, the method using β-naphthyl acetate and naphthyl AS acetate as the substrate gained the best result.
3. The esterase activity in the developing tooth and bone of the rat was inhibited to a certain extent for the use of sodium taurocholate and eserin.
4. This was suggested that the esterase activity may be related to the final calcification of the dental hard tissue.