Autoradiographic visualization of glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans in the epithelio-mesenchymal interface of developing mouse tooth germ

Abstract – The turnover of basement membrane macromolecules during tooth morphogenesis and odontobiast differentiation was examined by light microscopic autoradiography using ³H-fucose. ³⁵S-sulfate and ³H-glucosamine. Marked incorporation into the basement membrane was found throughout the progressive development. Pulse-chase experiments and prelabeling of tissue components indicated that glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans in the dental basement membrane are mainly derived from the enamel epithelium. During odontobiast differentiation, incorporation was increased at the epithelio-mesenchymal interface at the site of differentiating mesenchymal cells. From these sites the label also disappeared rapidly. This suggests that the active remodeling of extracellular matrix is related to odontobiast differentiation.