Bh. Porrasreyes et al., OCCURRENCE AND LOCALIZATION OF TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA (TGF-BETA-1, BETA-2) DURING RABBIT SKIN DEVELOPMENT, Connective tissue research, 29(3), 1993, pp. 203
The expression of (TGFbeta-1) and (TGFbeta-2) in adult, fetal, and neo
natal rabbit skin has been analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Samples w
ere collected from the backs of fetal rabbits (23 and 30 days of gesta
tion), newborn rabbits (1 day post-partum) and adult pregnant and nonp
regnant rabbits. Forty samples were studied. To identify TGF-beta two
antibodies were used: (RAB4) and (CL-B1/29). TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 d
isplayed distinct distribution and intensity of staining at different
stages of development. TGF-beta1 was present in fetal skin (23 days of
pregnancy) expressing abundant staining in cells within epidermis, de
rmis and hypodermis. Fetal skin (30 days of pregnancy) exhibited weak
staining for TGF-beta1; only isolated dermal cells in close proximity
to hair follicles and sweat glands expressed intracellular staining. N
ewborn rabbit skin showed low expression for TGF-beta1, around hair fo
llicles and sweat glands. In contrast adult pregnant and non-pregnant
rabbit skin exhibited abundant staining for TGF-beta1 in epidermis, pa
pillary dermis, around hair follicles, sweat glands, and blood vessels
, no difference was observed among pregnant and non-pregnant rabbits.
TGF-beta2 was detected in all specimens and the distribution and inten
sity of staining were similar to those found for TGF-beta1 in all grou
ps. Our findings demonstrate that the expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-
beta2 is intense during early stages of rabbit skin development when m
orphogenesis is taking place and skin appendages are being formed; and
less intense when these structures are formed and skin growth predomi
nates. These results suggest an important role for TGF-beta1 and TGF-b
eta2 in rabbit skin development, probably regulating morphogenesis and
growth.