Spatiotemporal expression of NGFR during pre-natal human tooth development.
OBJECTIVE
The relation between nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) in the human pre-natal tooth buds and the dental follicle was investigated. In particular, we sought to determine if there is a specific pattern of p75NGFR expression in developing human tooth buds and their surrounding tissue.


METHODS
The Department of Orthodontics at Copenhagen University, Denmark. Histological sections from 11 fetuses, aged 11-21 gestational weeks.


METHODS
The sections were studied by conventional immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Specific spatiotemporal patterns of p75NGFR reactions were observed in the tooth buds and dental follicle: Before matrix production by the ameloblasts, the entire inner enamel epithelium and the entire dental follicle display p75NGFR immunoreactivity; after matrix production is initiated, the immunoreactivity of the matrix producing cells is lost, as is that of the dental follicle adjacent to these matrix-producing cells.


CONCLUSIONS
A unique spatiotemporal distribution of NGFR in the pre-eruptive human tooth bud was demonstrated.
Becktor
K B
KB
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hansen
B F
BF
Nolting
D
D
Kjaer
I
I
D003795:Dental Sac / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004658:Enamel Organ / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009805:Odontogenesis; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor