title: An in situ hybridization study of Runx2, Osterix, and Sox9 in the anlagen of mouse mandibular condylar cartilage in the early stages of embryogenesis.
abstract: Mandibular condylar cartilage is the best-studied mammalian secondary cartilage, differing from primary cartilage in that it originates from alkaline phosphatase-positive progenitor cells. We previously demonstrated that three transcription factors related to bone and cartilage formation, namely Runx2, Osterix and Sox9, are simultaneously expressed in the anlage of mandibular condylar cartilage (condylar anlage) at embryonic day (E)14. In this study, expression of these transcription factors was investigated in the anlagen of mandibular bone (mandibular anlagen) from E11.0 to 14.0. Runx2 mRNA was first expressed in the mandibular anlage at E11.5. Osterix mRNA was first expressed at E12.0, and showed a different expression pattern from that of Runx2 from E12.5 to E14.0, confirming that Osterix acts downstream of Runx2. Sox9 mRNA was expressed in Meckel's cartilage and its anlagen throughout the experimental period, but not clearly in the mandibular anlagen until E13.0. At E13.5, the condylar anlage was morphologically identified at the posterior end of the mandibular anlage, and enhanced Sox9 mRNA expression was detected here. At this stage, Runx2 and Osterix mRNA were simultaneously detected in the condylar anlage. These results indicate that the Sox9 mRNA-expressing condylar anlage is derived from Runx2/Osterix mRNA-expressing mandibular anlage, and that upregulation of Sox9 in this region acts as a trigger for subsequent condylar cartilage formation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Histology, Department of Oral Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan. sshibata@hoku-iryo-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Tamaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokohama-Tamaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000196:embryology*; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000196:embryology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D000076182:Sp7 Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C527933:Sox9 protein, mouse; D000076182:Sp7 Transcription Factor; C479466:Sp7 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors