The present study was designed to elucidate the effects of the Co-60 γ irradiation and/or calcium-deficient diet on the periodontal tissue formation in rat pups. The pregnant three-week old Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study. The experimental group was divided into two groups, irradiation/normal diet group (Group 2) and irradiation/calcium-deficient diet group (Group 3). The control group was non-irradiation/normal diet group (Group 1). The abdomen of the rats at the 19th day of pregnancy were irradiated with single absorbed dose of 350 cGy. The rat pups were sacrificed on the 14th day after delivery, and the maxillae including molar tooth germ were taken. The specimens including the 1st molar tooth germ were prepared to make tissue sections for light and transmission electron microscopy. Some of tissue sections for light microscopy were stained immunohistochemically with anti-fibronectin and anti-osteonectin antibodies. The results were as follows; 1. In the periodontal ligament forming area, the fibroblasts of Group Z showed irregular arrangement and low activity. The immunoreactivity between the fibroblasts and collagen fibers was decreased, compared with Group 1. The fibroblasts of Group 3 showed atrophic change and clumped nucleus. The collagen fibers showed cystic change and low immunoreactivity to the fibronectin. 2. In the cementum forming area, the cementoblasts of Group 2 showed decrease of number and atrophic change. The cementoblasts of Group 3 showed edematous change, atrophy of cytoplasm, and clumping of nucleus. 3. In the alveolar bone forming area, the bone of Group 2 was thin and various degree of immunoreactivity to the osteonectin. Group 3 showed edematous osteoblasts, fibrous degeneration of bone marrow, and weak immunoreactivity to the osteonectin.