Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2003;38(6):429-431

Expression of homeobox gene Msx-1, Msx-2 and Dlx-2 during murine mandibular first molar development.

Li MA 1 ; Zhi CHEN ; Guang-tai SONG ; Ming-wen FAN ; Qi ZHANG ; Zhi-feng WANG

Affiliations

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Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of homeobox gene Msx-1, Msx-2 and Dlx-2 during murine mandibular first molar development.

METHODSThe murine heads or mandibles on embryonic days 11-18 (E11-18) and postnatal day 1-3 (P1-3) were removed, fixed and embedded, 5 micro m serial sections were cut in the coronal plane. Msx-1, Msx-2 and Dlx-2 RNA probes were synthesized by in vitro transcription and labeled with digoxigenin. Msx-1, Msx-2 and Dlx-2 mRNA expression was observed after in situ hybridization.

RESULTSDuring molar development Msx-1 transcripts appeared only in mesenchymal cells, not in epithelial cells. Msx-2 and Dlx-2 both expressed in the epithelial and mesenchymal cells. At the initiation stage of the molar development Msx-2 and Dlx-2 had similar expression. At the bud stage (E13-14) Msx-2 mRNA signaling was intensive in the enamel organ and slight in the dental mesenchyme; Dlx-2 signaling was stronger in the dental papilla. At cap stage (E15-16) Msx-2 showed prominent mRNA signaling in enamel knot and Dlx-2 was maximal in the dental papilla. At the late bell stage (P2-3) Msx-2 transcripts were observed in odontoblasts but not labeled in ameloblasts, and Dlx-2 transcripts appeared in ameloblasts but no labeling was seen in odontoblasts.

CONCLUSIONSMsx-1, Msx-2 and Dlx-2 are expressed in various patterns during murine mandibular first molar development, suggesting they possibly play a role in the interaction between the epithelium and mesenchyme during the molar development.