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Expression of c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene-encoded protein (p185erbB-2) in functional rat ameloblasts
A Casasco1, M Casasco, I P Corbett
1Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Pavia, Italy.
Abstract:
The c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein with tyrosine kinase activity, p185erbB-2, that has been previously localized in some developing and mature epithelia. The possible occurrence of p185 in the inner enamel epithelium of rat tooth germ was here investigated immunocytochemically. Postmitotic functional ameloblasts displayed intense p185-immunoreactivity, thus suggesting that c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene is active during odontogenesis. The expression of this gene in differentiated and functional cells of the enamel organ suggests that its role is not restricted to mitotic events but may also be important in signalling pathways related to other cell activities.