A SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY STUDY OF DISTURBANCES IN THE DEVELOPING RAT MOLAR INDUCED BY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE

Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the effect of cyclophos phamide (Cy) on molar development in 18 Sprague-Dawley rats from 15 to 48 days of age after birth. Doses of 30 mg/kg body weight of by disso lved in 1 ml 0.9% NaCl were given to the rats at 10 and 13 days of age . Eighteen control rats had injections of 1 ml 0.9% NaCl at the same a ges. The most obvious changes in the experimental teeth were found in the developing roots of the first and second molars and in both the cr own and roots of the third molar. The roots of the first and second mo lars were short and showed apical closure in the experimental rats. Th e roots of the first and second molars were short and showed apical cl osure in the experimental rats. In addition to the disturbances in cro wn and root formation, the third molars were also significantly reduce d in total size as compared with the third molars in the control rats.