Specific expression of nucleolin in cap-stage tooth germ of mouse / 上海第二医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the specific expression of nucleolin in the development of cap-stage tooth germ of mouse embryo,and detect the possible biological function of nucleolin. Methods In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect the expression of nucleolin mRNA and protein in the development of tooth germ at embryo day 15(E15).Double staining for apoptotic cells and nucleolin was employed to explore the relationship between nucleoin and apoptosis in tooth germ. Results The expression of nucleolin mRNA and protein was mainly detected in the cervical loop,inner epithelium and the underlying dental papilla.Moreover,nucleolin protein was also located in the primary enamel knot and basement membrane.It was revealed by double staining that the fluorescence images of nucleolin and the location of apoptotic cells were not overlapped. Conclusion The expression pattern of nucleolin mRNA do not completely coincide with that of nucleolin protein at the cap stage of tooth germ.The location for nucleolin protein in the basement membrane suggests that nucleolin may be involved in the reciprocal interactions between the inner epithelium and dental papilla mesenchyme,subsequently affect the morphogenesis of tooth germ.