BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR(FGF-2) IN MOUSE TOOTH MORPHOGENESIS

This study describes the spatio-temporal expression of basic Fibroblas t growth factor (FGF-2) during odontogenesis of mouse as revealed by i mmunohistology. Parasagittal sections of mouse embryo head (13-18 day of gestation) containing various stages of developing tooth-were incub ated with a polyclonal anti-FGF-2 antibody and positive binding was ev identiated by using Streptavidin-Biotin complex-HRP system and AEC sta ining. We observed no FGF-2 staining at the dental lamina stage. At th e bud stage slight staining is seen, limited to some epithelial cells. The intensity of the staining increases at the cap stage. In the bell stage, the stellate reticulum cells stain intensely. Later, odontobla sts and the dentin matrix stain deeply; but the epithelial cells stain faint. The extra cellular matrix of the dentin and dental papilla sta in very intense but the enamel matrix is found negative. These results indicate the participation of FGF-2 in differentiation rather than in proliferation of tooth-forming cells. In particular, it appears that FGF-2 participates in odontoblast differentiation and in dentin matrix deposition. The spatio-temporally specific distribution pattern of FG F-2 in developing mouse tooth reported here emphasizes the importance of FGF-2 in mammalian odontogenesis.