Expression patterns of Raf-1 suggest multiple roles in tooth development.

Raf-1, the product of proto-oncogene c-raf-1, has key roles in the signal transduction pathways within the cell. The molecular mechanisms of tooth development in the mouse embryo are not known in detail. We examined the expression of Raf-1 during subsequent tooth development by immunohistochemical analysis. In mouse embryos at days 12.5 post-coitum (p.c.), Raf-1 was expressed in the dental invaginating epithelium. At p.c. 13.5 (bud stage), Raf-1 was also expressed in the epithelial cells of the enamel organ, but not in the mesenchyme of the dental papilla. We added anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody as a marker for proliferating cells at early stages of tooth development. At p.c. 12.5 and p.c. 13.5, the staining patterns were very similar to that for Raf-1. At p.c. 15.5 (cap stage), Raf-1 could not be detected. At p.c. 17.5 (bell stage), Raf-1 was expressed in both the odontoblastic and subodontoblastic cells of the dental papilla. However, Raf-1 was not found in the epithelial cells of the enamel organ. We also added anti-type I collagen antibody as a marker for odontoblasts differentiation. The staining pattern for type I collagen antibody as a marker for odontoblasts differentiation. The staining pattern for type I collagen in odontoblasts was almost the same as for Raf-1. The results suggest that Raf-1 may play some roles in both cell proliferation and differentiation at different stages of tooth germ development.