title: The MMP activity in developing rat molar roots and incisors demonstrated by in situ zymography.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been expressed during root development and periodontal tissue formation, whereas it is not known if these MMP molecules are enzymatically active to degrade the extracellular matrices (ECMs). The present study was designed to investigate the gelatinolytic and collagenolytic activity in rat molar root and incisor development. Three-week old rat mandibles were frozen and cut without fixation or decalcification and processed for in situ zymography using substrates gelatin and collagen. The enzymatic activity was assessed according to the intensity of fluorescence due to the lysis of the substrates. Odontoblasts, predentin, cementum, bone and the enamel matrix showed the high activity. The present study demonstrated MMP activity in calcified tissues using in situ zymography for the first time and the possible involvement of the MMP activity in molar root and incisor development and periodontal tissue formation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakuraba
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hatakeyama
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hatakeyama
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mayanagi
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000201:enzymology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000201:enzymology; D003804:Dentin / Q000201:enzymology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000201:enzymology; D005629:Frozen Sections; D007180:Incisor; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008963:Molar; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases