Occurrence of epidermal growth factor-binding sites during differentiation of cementoblasts and periodontal ligament fibroblasts of the young rat: a light and electron microscopic radioautographic study.
Occurrence of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-binding sites during differentiation of cementoblasts and periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts was investigated using radioautography after I. V. injection of 125I-EGF to 14-day-old rats. During differentiation of cementoblasts, a very low level of EGF-binding sites was present on the mesenchymal cells in dental follicle proper, precementoblasts, and cementoblasts. On the other hand, during differentiation of PDL fibroblasts, numerous EGF-binding sites were observed on the undifferentiated paravascular cells and on the perifollicular mesenchymes representing the major source of PDL fibroblast precursor cells. Also heavy labeling was observed throughout their differentiation to PDL fibroblasts, as well as during full synthetic activity as mature cells. Quantitative analysis of the light microscopic radioautographs revealed that these cells demonstrated approximately 4 grains per 100 microns 2 of cell area. These results suggest that EGF plays an important role in differentiation of PDL fibroblasts, but not in that of cementoblasts. Furthermore, the well-known in vivo effect of EGF in producing precocious eruption of teeth may be a consequence of a more extensive effect of EGF throughout differentiation of PDL fibroblasts as well as during full synthetic activity as mature cells.
Cho
M I
MI
Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York, Buffalo 14214.
Lin
W L
WL
Garant
P R
PR
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001665:Binding Sites; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor