FIG. 6.

Mouse molar organ culture studies for cell fate mapping. (A–C) Identification of DiI fluorescence 6 days after insertion of a DiI crystal into the center of the stellate reticulum. After 6 days of culture, DiI fluorescence was detected in the stellate reticulum (arrow, site of crystal insertion) and a portion of the stratum intermedium (asterisks). Fluorescence filter combinations were fluorescein (A), Texas Red (B), and merge (C). Note the DiI labeling in the stratum intermedium (asterisk, A, C). (D–G) Cell morphology of cultured epithelium organs after 6 days of culture on Trowell nitrocellulose discs. (D, G) Coronal EO culture revealed cell layers resembling stellate reticulum (sr) cell populations. (E, H) Cervical loop organ culture resulted in densely packed polygonal cells surrounded by substantial amounts of extracellular matrix (ecm). (F, I) Coronal EO culture on Emdogain-coated discs yielded dense, cuboidal cell assemblies resembling stratum intermedium (si) cells, while stratum reticulum-like cell networks were absent.