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EGF antisense oligodeoxynucleotides block murine odontogenesis in vitro
J E Kronmiller1, W B Upholt, E J Kollar
1Department of BioStructure and Function, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington 06032.
Developmental Biology
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is crucial for initiating tooth development in mice. Blocking EGF in embryonic mandibular explants prevents odontogenesis, highlighting its role in early tooth formation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Molecular biology
- Oral biology
Background:
- Tooth development, or odontogenesis, begins with epithelial cell proliferation in the embryonic mandible.
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF) mRNA expression is developmentally regulated in the murine mandible, preceding tooth bud formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the initiation of odontogenesis.
- To demonstrate the involvement of EGF in the inductive specification of epithelial derivatives during tooth development.
Main Methods:
- Culturing embryonic mouse mandibular explants.
- Using antisense oligomers to block epidermal growth factor (EGF) expression.
- Assessing the initiation of odontogenesis via morphological changes and cell proliferation markers.
Main Results:
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF) mRNA is expressed in the murine mandible on embryonic Days 9 and 10, preceding tooth bud formation on Day 11.
- Exposure of Day 9 mandibular explants to antisense oligomers targeting EGF significantly blocked the initiation of odontogenesis.
- These findings provide the first evidence for EGF's involvement in specifying a complex epithelial derivative.
Conclusions:
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a critical inductive role in the initiation of odontogenesis.
- EGF signaling is essential for the site-specific proliferation of mandibular epithelium required for tooth development.
- This study establishes EGF as a key molecular factor in early tooth germ formation.