<prompt> The reduced enamel epithelium proliferates and seems to induce atrophy of the connective tissue separating it from the oral epithelium inProtective stageDesmolytic stageOrganizing stageMaturation stage  <response>: The reduced enamel epithelium proliferates and seems to induce atrophy of the connective tissue separating it from the oral epithelium, so that fusion of the two epithelia can occur. 