Immunohistochemical localization of cadherin and catenin adhesion molecules in the murine growth plate.

Mouse tibial growth plates were examined for the presence of adhesion molecules using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. All of the components of the classical cadherin/catenin complex (cadherin, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin), as well as a heavy presence of p120, were identified in the murine growth plate. All of the major cadherins (1-5, 11, 13, and 15) were, for the first time, identified and localized in the murine growth plate. We have demonstrated that most of the cadherins and catenins reside in the zone of hypertrophy. Only alpha-catenin and E-, P-, R-, and VE-cadherin were found in all regions of the growth plate. The results for T-cadherin were inconclusive.