MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL MAXILLARY DIASTEMAL DENTAL ANLAGENIN 3 STRAINS OF MICE

By means of histomorphometric analysis of temporo-spatial changes of t he thickness of oral maxillary epithelium in day 11 and 12 ICR, Swiss, and DBA/2 X B6 mouse embryos, the transitory existence of two potenti al tooth anlagen was documented. The mesial primordium appeared slight ly later and disappeared earlier than the distal one. Their developmen t culminated at dental lamina and bud stage, respectively. These poten tial vestigial tooth anlagen might correspond to the third and fourth upper premolars present in some recent rodent families and in Paramyid ae, the supposed ancestors of actual rodents.