Int J Oral Biol.  2015 Mar;40(1):1-9. 10.11620/IJOB.2015.40.1.001.

Osteocalcin Expression and Mineralization in Developing Tooth of Xenopus laevis

• Park JH
• Kwon KT
• Park BK
• Lee YH

• KMID: 1789363
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11620/IJOB.2015.40.1.001

Abstract

Osteocalcin (OC) is the most abundant noncollagenous protein of extracellular matrix in the bone. In an OC deficient mouse, bone formation rates are increased in cancellous and cortical bones. OC is known as a negative regulator of mineral apposition. OC is also expressed in the tooth of the rat, bovine, and human. However, little is known about OC during tooth development in Xenopus. The purpose of this study is to compare the expression of OC with mineralization in the developing tooth of Xenopus, by using von Kossa staining and in situ hybridization. At stage 56, the developmental stage of tooth germ corresponds to the cap stage, and an acellular zone was apparent between the dental papilla and the enamel organ. From stage 57, calcium deposition was revealed by von Kossa staining prior to OC expression, and the differentiated odontoblasts forming predentin were located at adjoining predentin. At stage 58, OC transcripts were detected in the differentiated odontoblasts. At stage 66, OC mRNA was expressed in the odontoblasts, which was aligned in a single layer at the periphery of the pulp. These findings suggest that OC may play a role in mineralization and odontogenesis of tooth development in Xenopus.

Keyword

osteocalcin; von Kossa; mineralization; tooth development; Xenopus

MeSH Terms

Animals
Calcium
Dental Papilla
Enamel Organ
Extracellular Matrix
Humans
In Situ Hybridization
Mice
Odontoblasts
Odontogenesis
Osteocalcin*
Osteogenesis
Rats
RNA, Messenger
Tooth Germ
Tooth*
Xenopus
Xenopus laevis*
Calcium
Osteocalcin
RNA, Messenger