title: Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization investigation of transforming growth factor-beta: during odontoblast and ameloblast differentiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of transforming growth factor-beta, TGF-beta 1 during odontoblast and ameloblast differentiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis was made on 5-micron serial sections of the glutaraldehyde-fixed and paraffin-embedded mandibular first and second molars of a neonatal mouse. A specific and affinity-purified antibody to TGF-beta 1 and a digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probe were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the TGF-beta 1 was expressed in a spatial and temporal pattern in dental tissues. The immunoreactivity of dental tissues for TGF-beta 1 was consistent with the expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA revealed by in situ hybridization before dentin matrix formation. The TGF-beta 1 was evenly expressed in dental papilla and inner enamel epithelium. The expression of TGF-beta 1 was increased in the layer of odontoblasts and ameloblasts and in the stratum intermedium with the formation of dentin matrix, where the staining was also observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that TGF-beta 1 may have an important role in extracellular matrix formation and cytodifferentation.
authors.affiliation: College and Hospital of Stomatology, Hubei Medical University, Wuhan, P. R. China.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Y G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000565:Ameloblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003771:Dental Papilla / Q000737:chemistry*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015347:RNA Probes; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015347:RNA Probes; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta