Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Whole-tooth regeneration for tooth loss has long been a goal of dentistry. There is also an increasing demand to carry out pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo research methods in large animal model similar to human. The miniature pig has proven to be an alternative as a large mammal model owing to its many similarities to human. However, whole-tooth regeneration in large animal remains a challenge. Here, we investigated the feasibility of cell re-association-based whole-tooth regeneration in miniature pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single cells from the forth deciduous molar germs (p4) of pig were reconstituted to bioengineered tooth bud using different treatment for in vitro culture and in vivo transplantation in mouse subrenal capsules and jawbones. RESULTS: The bioengineered tooth bud from re-aggregated epithelial to mesenchymal single cells with and without compartmentalization restored the morphogenesis, interactions or self-sorting between 2 cells in vitro culture. The pig bioengineered tooth bud transplanted in mouse subrenal capsules and jawbones restored odontogenesis and developed into large size tooth. CONCLUSIONS: We characterized the morphogenesis and interaction of single-tooth germ cells in vitro, and first addressed efficient long-term survival and growth through transplantation of pig bioengineered tooth bud under mouse subrenal capsules or in mouse jawbones, where it can develop into large size tooth. Our study extends the feasibility of whole-tooth regeneration in large animal.