Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) plays an essential role in the postnatal development and maintenance of mouse mandibular condylar cartilage.

Recently, dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) was found to be expressed in the mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC), but the possible roles of this molecule in the formation, growth, and maintenance of the cartilage are largely unclear. To analyze such roles, we examined Dspp null mice compared with wild-type mice to assess the consequences of Dspp deletion on the morphology and structure of the MCC. Our data showed that DSPP is expressed in the prechondroblastic, chondroblastic, hypertrophic layers of the MCC. Dspp null mice exhibited decreases in the amount of MCC, with reduced formation of articular and prechondroblastic layers in which progenitor cell proliferation levels were distinctly affected. The expression of extracellular matrix molecules, including biglycan and collagen II, IX, and X, was remarkably altered. The findings in this study indicate that continuous DSPP action is required for the growth and/or maintenance of the MCC.