Immunohistochemical localization of Pax6 in the developing tooth germ of mice.
Recent studies have reported that supernumerary teeth were observed in the maxillary incisor area in several Pax6 homozygous mutant mouse and rat strains. To date, it remains unknown whether Pax6 is expressed during tooth development in any species. The study aimed to analyze the expression of Pax6 during mouse incisor and molar development. C57BL/6J mouse embryos on days E12.5, E13.5, E14.5, E16.5 and E18.5 were produced. Heads from these embryos, as well as from P1.5 mice, were processed for paraffin wax embedding (N ≥ 3 for each stage) and prepared for immunohistochemistry. Pax6 immunostaining was found in all tooth germs examined. At the E12.5 dental placode, E13.5 bud stage, E14.5 cap stage and E16.5 early bell stage, Pax6 was expressed in ectodermally derived tissues of tooth germs and oral epithelia adjacent to the tooth germs. Cells in the underlying dental ectomesenchyme that showed Pax9 expression were Pax6 negative. At E18.5 and P1.5, Pax6 was expressed in more differentiated ameloblasts and cells of the stratum intermedium and stellate reticulum that were derived from the oral epithelium, as well as in mesenchyme-derived differentiated odontoblasts. Pax6 expression was also observed in the submandibular gland, tongue filiform papilla and hair follicle at E16.5 and P1.5. The present study demonstrated that Pax6 was expressed in incisor and molar germs during mouse tooth development. The results provide a basis for exploring the function of Pax6 during tooth development.
The 3rd Dental Center, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Room 203, Gaode Building, 10 Huayuan East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
Haihua
H
Lei
He
H
Liu
Yun
Y
Ding
Lihong
L
Ge
D000818:Animals; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; C000605733:Pax6 protein, rat; D012097:Repressor Proteins