Expression patterns of amelogenin and enamelin in developing mouse tooth germs / 中华口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To invesitgate the expression patterns of amelogenin and enamelin in the developing tooth germs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mandible sections of postnatal day 1, 3, 7 and 14 mouse were prepared, immunohistochemical analysis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to detect the expression patterns of amelogenin and enamelin in mandibular first molars.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Amelogenin was observed in the cytoplasm of secretory ameloblasts and the whole enamel matrix layer. It was also transiently expressed in the odontoblasts of postnatal day 1 molars. Enamelin proteins were observed in the enamel layer deposited by secretory ameloblasts, especially intense beneath the ameloblast process and dentino-enamel junction. The mRNA levels of both amelogenin and enamelin were highest on postnatal day 7 (the ratio to glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase of amelogenin and enamelin 0.813 ± 0.085 and 0.799 ± 0.064, respectively, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Amelogenin and enamelin were enamel matrix proteins predominately expressed by secretory ameloblasts. The temporal-spatial expression patterns of amelogenin and enamelin indicate the important roles they played in amelogenesis and biomineralization.</p>