Ultrastructural localization of fibrillin-1 and fibrillin-2 in oxytalan fibers in periodontal ligament of Japanese Macaca fuscata monkey.
Although oxytalan fibers are a ubiquitous component of the periodontal ligament, their composition and function remain to be fully clarified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the localization of fibrillin-1 and fibrillin-2, large cysteine-rich glycoproteins, in monkey molar periodontal ligament by means of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopic immunogold labeling. Fibers positive for both fibrillin-1 and -2 were observed throughout the periodontal ligament, and their pattern of distribution was basically the same as that of oxytalan fibers. Double immunogold electron microscopy revealed that fibrillin-1 co-localized with fibrillin-2 on the microfibrils of the oxytalan fibers. The results suggest that oxytalan fibers in monkey periodontal ligament are made up of fibrillin-rich microfibrils. These results should contribute to a better understanding of the role of oxytalan fibers in development and tissue remodeling in periodontal ligament.
Sawada
Takashi
T
Department of Ultrastructural Science, Tokyo Dental College, Masago 1-2-2, Mihama-ku, Chiba City 261-8502, Japan. sawada@tdc.ac.jp
D000818:Animals; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000071837:Fibrillins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008251:Macaca / Q000378:metabolism*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D021381:Protein Transport
D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D000071837:Fibrillins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C437744:oxytalan