Structure of the upper teeth of the filefish, Stephanolepis cirrhifer

Abstract

The teeth of the filefish were investigated with light and scanning electron microscopy. Anterior and posterior rows of pleurodont teeth are present in the maxilla. The teeth in the anterior row possess a large labial and small lingual surface and the teeth in the posterior row possess a small labial and large lingual surface. The enameloid consists of three layers-the outer, middle, and inner layer. The outer layer consists of fine, parallel crystallites oriented perpendicular to the surface. They are similar to the crystallites in enamel derived from ectoderm. In the middle layer the crystallites form parallel bundles that are oriented in the same direction as that of the crystallites in the outer layer. In the inner layer bundles of crystallites interlace with each other. The tubular structures and the terminal branches of the dentinal tubules are located among the crystallites in the inner layer. In the dentine numerous dentinal tubules radiate from the pulp cavity toward the periphery and are seen to curve slightly in an S-shaped course. At the occlusal tip the alternating parabolic layers are seen and these are considered to be mineralized lines. The openings of the dentinal tubules are round or oval, surrounded by interlacing fibrils. The teeth are tightly fixed to the jawbone by bundles of fibrils. At the lower part of the lingual surface of the teeth in the anterior row and the labial surface of the teeth in the posterior row the bundles of fibrils start at the dentine and some fibrils run through connective tissue, while others terminate in projections of the jawbones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evolution of patterns and processes in teeth and tooth‐related tissues in non‐mammalian vertebrates

“…vidence from various sources indicates that the very uperficial layer reported to exist on the surface of ·hark and teleost enameloid might be an exclusively epithelial product and therefore represent a true, albeit extremely thin, layer of enamel (e.g. the ·uperficialterminal membrane in the shark Squalus (219) and the tcleosts Esox and Gadus (219, 220) , the enamel-like layer in the teleost A ngui/la ( 197 ), the uperficial layer of the teeth in Steplwnolepis (221 )) (see the discussion by HUYSSEUNE & SIRE (169)) . On the other hand, PooLE (222) and KAWASAKI & FEARNHEAD (223) homologized the enamel-dentine junction of mammalian teeth (where there is an admixture of mesenchymally and ectodermally derived components) with enameloid.…”