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Letters to Nature

Nature 217, 269-270 (20 January 1968) | doi:10.1038/217269a0; Received 5 December 1967

Odontogenesis: Cell–Cell Interactions in vitro

H. C. SLAVKIN, J. BEIERLE & L. A. BAVETTA

  1. Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
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EMBRYONIC interactions of epithelial and mesenchymal tissue before organogenesis have been observed in several organ systems1–4. These phenomena have been tested by isolating embryonic tissues from their in vivo environment and transplanting them in an artificial environment from which no morphogenetic signals can be received. The chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) of chick provides a versatile site for the maintenance and further differentiation of embryonic organs5,6. One such organ, the tooth primordium, arises as a result of interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal tissues and offers a model system for developmental studies.