Patterned distributions of chondroitin sulfate isoforms, retinoic acid receptor gamma and cellular retinoic acid binding proteins in the embryonic mouse incisor.

Odontogenesis is an example of developmental process whereby pluripotential embryonic ectodermal and ectomesenchymal cells give rise to specific, highly ordered, spatial arrangements of overtly differentiated tissues. This process implies the sequential and coordinated expression of several molecules of defined biological activities. The data presented here demonstrate the occurrence, in the embryonic mouse incisor, of a striking correspondence between gradients of mitoses, chondroitin 6-sulfate distribution, retinoic acid receptor gamma and cellular retinoic acid binding protein I transcripts. Although purely phenomenological, these observations provide an important guide to the design of experiments for understanding the mechanisms of pattern formation during tooth development.