Cementum structure in Beluga whale teeth
- Northwestern University, Chicago, IL (United States). Dept. of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
We report that a large fraction of the volume of Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) teeth consists of cementum, a mineralized tissue which grows throughout the life of the animal and to which the periodontal ligaments attach. Annular growth bands or growth layer groups (GLGs) form within Beluga cementum, and this study investigates GLG structure using X-ray fluorescence mapping and X-ray diffraction mapping with microbeams of synchrotron radiation. The Ca and Zn fluorescent intensities and carbonated hydroxyapatite (cAp) diffracted intensities rise and fall together and match the light-dark bands visible in transmitted light micrographs. Within the bands of maximum Ca and Zn intensity, the ratio of Zn to Ca is slightly higher than in the minima bands. Further, the GLG cAp, Ca and Zn modulation is preserved throughout the cementum for durations >25 year.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1417301
- Journal Information:
- Acta Biomaterialia, Journal Name: Acta Biomaterialia Journal Issue: C Vol. 48; ISSN 1742-7061
- Publisher:
- Acta Materialia, Inc.Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
| Incremental distribution of strontium and zinc in great ape and fossil hominin cementum using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping 
 | journal | January 2018 | 
| Incremental distribution of strontium and zinc in great ape and fossil hominin cementum using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping 
 | text | January 2018 | 
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