Immunolocalization of a 110 kD molecule and a 150 kD molecule in rat incisor and mandibular bone

In the present study, antibodies against rat dental proteoglycans were used to characterize and localize the proteoglycans in rat incisor and mandibular tissues. Polyclonal rabbit antibodies were raised against a CPC-precipitated fraction of a sulfated dental extract. In unpurified dental extract these antibodies recognized two molecules of 110 kD and 150 kD. The 150 kD molecule was susceptible to chondroitinase ABC digestion but the 110 kD molecule resisted this enzymatic degradation. Immunocytochemically these two molecules were seen to be located in the pulp, the enamel organ and the mandibular bone. In each tissue only the periphery of the cells was stained and not the intracellular compartment. In the mineralized area of bone, dentin and forming enamel no staining was seen. These results indicate common epitopes in the proteoglycans from pulp, predentin, enamel organ and bone. Some differences were found in the nature of tooth and bone proteoglycans.