title: Immunocytochemical localization of claudin-1 in the maturation ameloblasts of rat incisors.
abstract: Claudin-1 is a tight junction transmembrane protein. Its localization in the maturation ameloblasts of rat incisors was examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Distal junction area of ruffle-ended ameloblasts (RA) and the Golgi apparatus of a sub-population of smooth-ended ameloblasts (SA) and RAs stained positive with anti-claudin-1 antibodies. Since it has been shown that ameloblasts repeatedly alternate between an SA and an RA morphology during enamel maturation, the presence of claudin-1 in the Golgi cisterns may indicate the presence of tight junction precursors before transportation to the junctional area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. nishikawa-s@tsurumi-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sumio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe