Amelogenin expression in canine oral tissues and lesions

Amelogenins are major enamel proteins within the enamel extracellular matrix. The expression of amelogenin was confirmed in neonatal tissues of the canine jaw. The sequence of a portion of canine amelogenin cDNA, within exons 5 and 6, was determined and found to be closely homologous to sequences reported in the cow, pig, mouse and human being. Two acanthomatous epulides collected from clinically affected dogs showed amelogenin expression, whereas 22 other canine oral lesions, including six additional acanthomatous epulides, did not show amelogenin expression. Examination of structural proteins may allow precise identification of the histogenesis of the odontogenic neoplasms, which are often difficult to distinguish by means of morphological criteria alone.