Caspase 3 activation in the primary enamel knot of developing molar tooth.
Mammalian teeth develop during embryogenesis as epithelio-mesenchymal organs. The primary enamel knot is considered as a signaling center in tooth morphogenesis. After tooth bell formation, this epithelial structure undergoes apoptosis. Activation of caspase 3 represents a crucial step in the intracellular death machinery. Procaspase 3 and caspase 3 molecules were localized in the primary enamel knot of the field vole using immunohistochemistry. Different fixation procedures in cryopreserved and paraffin-embedded tissues and detection systems based on peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase mediated color reactions were applied. Apoptosis was detected using morphological criteria and the TUNEL assay. Procaspase 3 was found in both the epithelial and mesenchymal part of the tooth germ. Active caspase 3 was localized particularly in the primary enamel knot, its distribution correlated with dental apoptosis and showed a similar pattern in the field vole as in the mouse.
Matalová
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Laboratory of Animal Embryology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic. matalova@iach.cz
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Mísek
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D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D003411:Arvicolinae; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008963:Molar / Q000196:embryology*; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology*
C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases