Abstract
Summary
Lower or upper jaws of young axolotls (age 20 to 60 days) were locally irradiated with 2000-4000 r. Suppression of growth of treated jaws was observed in all cases. The irradiated jaw is a miniature copy of the normal jaw. Tissue reaction of irradiated jaw was evident 23 days after treatment with 4000 r (primary acute reaction). The treated jaw at this time showed a typical degenerating giant cell epithelium. The enamel epithelium disappeared and resorption of teeth was in progress. Thirty-four days after irradiation there remained small remnants of teeth in parts of treated jaws. At this time, when the resorption of teeth is almost completed, only a small retardation of growth of the irradiated jaw was observed. The degenerating giant cell epithelium has disappeared and been replaced with normal-appearing epithelium, but this epithelium was unable to produce new enamel organs. Fifty-eight days after treatment the retardation of growth of the treated jaws was clearly evident, and all remnants of teeth in them completely disappeared. In the control (shielded) jaws of the same animals, the development of teeth proceeds normally. The mechanisms of tooth formation and tooth maintenance are permanently destroyed by x-ray irradiation.
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