| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥1,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥2,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000)
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| Research Abstract |
Murine neural crest(NC) cells are generated from dorsal tip of neural folds at E 9.0. NC cells are divided into two populations ; cranial neural crest(CNC) and trunk neural crest(TNC). CNC can differentiate into several cell lineages containing osteoblasts, chondrocytes and odontoblasts. Furthermore, it is known that CNC participate in organogenesis such as cranioface containing jaws and teeth, and thymus. However, characteristics of these NC cells have not been clarified. Therefore, we assessed the presence, distribution and potential for differentiation of these NC cells. In addition, we tried to make a system to detect the differentiation of CNC into odontoblasts by using GFP.
We show results of our research as follows :
1)We used P0-Cre mice, which express Cre gene in the neural crest cells, and we can trace neural crest-derived cells as LacZ-expressing cells. Using this system, we clarified the presence, distribution and potential for differentiation of NC in the thymus. Furthermore, we assessed the characteristics of NC cells by flow cytometry.
2)Next, using these systems, we clarified that about 70% mesenchymal cells of tooth buds were composed of NC-derived cells, and large numbers of these NC cells in the tooth buds expressed PFDGFRα, integrin αV, CD44.
3)We found that NC-derived cells in the tooth buds could differentiate into not only odontoblasts but also chondrocytes and osteoblasts.
4)We made three lines of transgenic mice carrying GFP under the control of Dentin sialophosphoprotein(DSPP). However, we didn't get transgenic mice that express GFP in odontoblasts.
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