Analysis of Tooth Development in Mice Bearing a TGF-β1 Null Mutation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
While transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and its related mammalian isoforms TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 are coexpressed in developing tooth organs, the specific biological role of each isoform is unknown. To delineate the role of TGF-β1 in odontogenesis, we have studied tissues from mice that lack a functional TGF-β1 gene. Histologic analyses revealed that in TGF-β1 (-/-) mice, tooth morphogenesis, cytodifferentiation and histogenesis were unaffected. Using in situ hybridization we studied the patterns of distribution of TGFs-β1, β2 and β3 in the TGF-β1 (+/+, +/-and-/-) genotypes. Our results indicate no detectable TGF-β1 mRNA in null tissues while TGFs-β2 and β3 showed normal temporal-spatial patterns of distribution. Using antibodies against TGF-β1, we observed immunoreactive TGF-β1 in tissues from null mice suggesting that maternally-derived TGF-β1 may be involved in the rescue of several developmental events in TGF-β1 knockout mice.