Evolution and Function of Dinosaur Teeth at Ultramicrostructural Level Revealed Using Synchrotron Transmission X-ray Microscopy

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2015 Oct 30

PMID 26512629

Citations 12

Authors

Chun-Chieh Wang

Yen-Fang Song

Sheng-Rong Song

Qiang Ji

Cheng-Cheng Chiang

Qingjin Meng

Haibing Li

Kiko Hsiao

Yi-Chia Lu

Bor-Yuan Shew

Timothy Huang

Robert R Reisz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The relationship between tooth form and dietary preference is a crucial issue in vertebrate evolution. However, the mechanical properties of a tooth are influenced not only by its shape but also by its internal structure. Here, we use synchrotron transmission X-ray microscopy to examine the internal microstructures of multiple dinosaur teeth within a phylogenetic framework. We found that the internal microstructures of saurischian teeth are very different from advanced ornithischian teeth, reflecting differences in dental developmental strategies. The three-tissue composition (enamel-mantle dentin-bulk dentin) near the dentinoenamel junction (DEJ) in saurischian teeth represents the primitive condition of dinosaur teeth. Mantle dentin, greatly reduced or absent from DEJ in derived ornithischian teeth, is a key difference between Saurischia and Ornithischia. This may be related to the derived herbivorous feeding behavior of ornithischians, but interestingly, it is still retained in the herbivorous saurischian sauropods. The protective functions of mantle dentin with porous microstructures between enamel and bulk dentin inside typical saurischian teeth are also discussed using finite-element analysis method. Evolution of the dental modifications in ornithischian dinosaurs, with the absence of mantle dentin, may be related to changes in enamel characteristics with enamel spindles extending through the DEJ.

Citing Articles

The diet of early birds based on modern and fossil evidence and a new framework for its reconstruction.

Miller C, Pittman M Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2021; 96(5):2058-2112.

PMID: 34240530 PMC: 8519158. DOI: 10.1111/brv.12743.

Convergent dental adaptations in the serrations of hypercarnivorous synapsids and dinosaurs.

Whitney M, LeBlanc A, Reynolds A, Brink K Biol Lett. 2020; 16(12):20200750.

PMID: 33321067 PMC: 7775981. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0750.

Investigation of Bone Growth in Additive-Manufactured Pedicle Screw Implant by Using Ti-6Al-4V and Bioactive Glass Powder Composite.

Lam T, Trinh M, Huang C, Kung P, Huang W, Chang W Int J Mol Sci. 2020; 21(20).

PMID: 33050160 PMC: 7587946. DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207438.

Ultramicrostructural reductions in teeth: implications for dietary transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds.

Li Z, Wang C, Wang M, Chiang C, Wang Y, Zheng X BMC Evol Biol. 2020; 20(1):46.

PMID: 32316913 PMC: 7171806. DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01611-w.

Calcitriol exerts a mineralization-inductive effect comparable to that of vitamin C in cultured human periodontium cells.

Hong H, Hong A, Wang C, Huang E, Chiang C, Yen T Am J Transl Res. 2019; 11(4):2304-2316.

PMID: 31105837 PMC: 6511783.

References

Bechtle S, Fett T, Rizzi G, Habelitz S, Klocke A, Schneider G . Crack arrest within teeth at the dentinoenamel junction caused by elastic modulus mismatch. Biomaterials. 2010; 31(14):4238-47. DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.01.127. View

Erickson G, Krick B, Hamilton M, Bourne G, Norell M, Lilleodden E . Complex dental structure and wear biomechanics in hadrosaurid dinosaurs. Science. 2012; 338(6103):98-101. DOI: 10.1126/science.1224495. View

KAGAYAMA M, Sasano Y, Tsuchiya M, Watanabe M, Mizoguchi I, Kamakura S . Confocal microscopy of Tomes' granular layer in dog premolar teeth. Anat Embryol (Berl). 2000; 201(2):131-7. DOI: 10.1007/pl00008233. View

Hendrickx C, Mateus O . Abelisauridae (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Late Jurassic of Portugal and dentition-based phylogeny as a contribution for the identification of isolated theropod teeth. Zootaxa. 2014; 3759:1-74. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3759.1.1. View

Hwang S . Phylogenetic patterns of enamel microstructure in dinosaur teeth. J Morphol. 2005; 266(2):208-40. DOI: 10.1002/jmor.10372. View

Zaslansky P, Zabler S, Fratzl P . 3D variations in human crown dentin tubule orientation: a phase-contrast microtomography study. Dent Mater. 2009; 26(1):e1-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2009.09.007. View

Erickson G, Sidebottom M, Kay D, Turner K, Ip N, Norell M . Wear biomechanics in the slicing dentition of the giant horned dinosaur Triceratops. Sci Adv. 2015; 1(5):e1500055. PMC: 4640618. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1500055. View

Cate A . An analysis of Tomes' granular layer. Anat Rec. 1972; 172(2):137-47. DOI: 10.1002/ar.1091720202. View

Song Y, Chang C, Liu C, Chang S, Jeng U, Lai Y . X-ray beamlines for structural studies at the NSRRC superconducting wavelength shifter. J Synchrotron Radiat. 2007; 14(Pt 4):320-5. DOI: 10.1107/S0909049507021516. View

10.

Brink K, Reisz R . Hidden dental diversity in the oldest terrestrial apex predator Dimetrodon. Nat Commun. 2014; 5:3269. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4269. View

11.

Parkinson C, Sasov A . High-resolution non-destructive 3D interrogation of dentin using X-ray nanotomography. Dent Mater. 2007; 24(6):773-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2007.09.003. View

12.

Suresh S . Graded materials for resistance to contact deformation and damage. Science. 2001; 292(5526):2447-51. DOI: 10.1126/science.1059716. View

13.

Tsuchiya M, Sasano Y, KAGAYAMA M, Watanabe M . Characterization of interglobular dentin and Tomes' granular layer in dog dentin using electron probe microanalysis in comparison with predentin. Calcif Tissue Int. 2001; 68(3):172-8. DOI: 10.1007/s002230001208. View

14.

Goldberg M, Kulkarni A, Young M, Boskey A . Dentin: structure, composition and mineralization. Front Biosci (Elite Ed). 2011; 3(2):711-35. PMC: 3360947. DOI: 10.2741/e281. View

15.

Zaslansky P, Friesem A, Weiner S . Structure and mechanical properties of the soft zone separating bulk dentin and enamel in crowns of human teeth: insight into tooth function. J Struct Biol. 2006; 153(2):188-99. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2005.10.010. View

16.

Earl J, Leary R, Perrin J, Brydson R, Harrington J, Markowitz K . Characterization of dentine structure in three dimensions using FIB-SEM. J Microsc. 2010; 240(1):1-5. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2010.03396.x. View

17.

Williams V, Barrett P, Purnell M . Quantitative analysis of dental microwear in hadrosaurid dinosaurs, and the implications for hypotheses of jaw mechanics and feeding. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009; 106(27):11194-9. PMC: 2708679. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0812631106. View

18.

Donoghue P, Bengtson S, Dong X, Gostling N, Huldtgren T, Cunningham J . Synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy of fossil embryos. Nature. 2006; 442(7103):680-3. DOI: 10.1038/nature04890. View

19.

Mihlbachler M, Rivals F, Solounias N, Semprebon G . Dietary change and evolution of horses in North America. Science. 2011; 331(6021):1178-81. DOI: 10.1126/science.1196166. View

20.

Chai H, Lee J, Constantino P, Lucas P, Lawn B . Remarkable resilience of teeth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009; 106(18):7289-93. PMC: 2678632. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0902466106. View