title: [Expression of the estrogen receptor and type II collagen in the mandibular condylar cartilage of the human embryo].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression of the estrogen receptor (ER) and type II collagen in the mandibular condylar cartilage of the human embryo.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression and localization of ERalpha, ERbeta, and type II collagen in the mandibular condylar cartilage of the human embryo were examined through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunohistochemistry staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Type II collagen was primarily localized in the transitional and hypertrophic layers of the condylar cartilage. ERa was mostly expressed in the transitional and hypertrophic cartilaginous layers of the condylar cartilage. ERa was evenly distributed in the cell, whereas ERbeta was localized in the nuclei. No expression of type II collagen and ER was found in the fibrage and the proliferative layer although minimal expression was found in the calcified cartilage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of ER and type II collagen in the mandibular condylar cartilage was consistent. Estrogen can selectively combine with different subtypes of ER that regulate the ability of the condylar cartilage cells to secrete type II collagens.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Oral Anatomy and Physiology, College of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi 563003, China.
authors.forename: Yuerong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Zhonglin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002356:Cartilage; D003094:Collagen; D024043:Collagen Type II; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008335:Mandibular Condyle; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D003094:Collagen