Nerve growth factor receptor immunolocalization during human palate and tongue development.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the temporospatial pattern of nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) immunolocalization during human palatal closure.


METHODS
Human palate and tongue tissues from 33 embryos/fetuses, 9 to 22 weeks of fertilization age.


METHODS
Tissues were divided according to developmental stage and palatal development (before, during, and after closure) and then subjected to decalcification, paraffin embedding, serial sectioning, survey staining, and p75NGFR immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Specific temporospatial patterns of p75NGFR reactivity were observed; reactivity was intense in the soft tissue palatal shelves before and during palatal closure and was weaker in the palate after palatal closure. In the tongue, intense reactivity was seen throughout 9 to 22 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed patterns suggest that p75NGFR may enable the visualization of physiological events in palatal closure during normal human development.
Ono
Takashi
T
Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Fischer-Hansen
Birgit
B
Nolting
Dorrit
D
Kjaer
Inger
I
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010159:Palate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology*; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D014059:Tongue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor