Expression of DCC in differentiating ameloblasts from developing tooth germs in rats.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the expression pattern of the Deleted-in-colorectal-carcinoma (DCC) gene in developing rat tooth germs.


METHODS
Rat pups at 4, 7 and 10 d postpartum were used in this study. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescent localization were used to determine the level of DCC expression during tooth development.


RESULTS
There was more than 2-fold higher level of DCC mRNA in the rat 2nd maxillary molar tooth germs on 10 d postpartum, which was the root stage, than in the rat 3rd maxillary molar tooth germ, which was at the cap/early bell development stage. In addition, the levels of DCC mRNA in the 2nd maxillary molar germs at 4, 7 and 10 d postpartum increased gradually according to tooth development. Interestingly, immunoreactivity against DCC was specifically detected in the differentiating ameloblasts. DCC was observed in the lateral and apical sides of the newly differentiating and secretory stage ameloblasts. Afterwards, DCC was localized only in the apical side of the maturation stage ameloblasts, not in the lateral side.


CONCLUSIONS
DCC is expressed in the differentiating ameloblasts, which suggests that this molecule plays a crucial role in amelogenesis.
Department of Oral Anatomy, School of Dentistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
H J
HJ
Kim
S K
SK
Jeon
J H
JH
Kang
M S
MS
Kim
H M
HM
Ko
J Y
JY
Jung
J T
JT
Koh
W J
WJ
Kim
E J
EJ
Lee
H P
HP
Lim
S H
SH
Kim
D000565:Ameloblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D000566:Amelogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D053523:Amelogenin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D000075389:DCC Receptor; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D003795:Dental Sac / Q000166:cytology; D004658:Enamel Organ / Q000166:cytology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D016163:Genes, DCC / Q000235:genetics*; D007180:Incisor / Q000166:cytology; D008963:Molar / Q000166:cytology; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000166:cytology*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000166:cytology; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
C098519:Ambn protein, rat; D053523:Amelogenin; D000075389:DCC Receptor; C501912:Dcc protein, rat; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C038456:tuftelin