Figure 1
From: A Reciprocal Interaction between β-Catenin and Osterix in Cementogenesis
In vivo regulation of cementum formation by stabilized β-catenin and Osx. (a) Hematoxylin and eosin (H-E)-stained whole sections of mandibular first molars from WT, OC-Osx, OC-Catnb, and OC-Catnb:Osx mice at postnatal week 6 (P6W) (Top). Cervical cementum regions of the red dotted square are shown in the high-powered field (middle row, a). The average cervical cementum thickness is indicated by a pair of black arrows in each group. Apical cellular cementum regions of the black dotted square were also magnified (bottom row, a). Reduced apical cellular cementum is indicated by black arrows in OC-Osx and OC-Catnb:Osx, respectively. Red arrows indicate odontoblasts entrapped in osteodentin, which is specifically formed by stabilized β-catenin in OC-expressing odontoblasts. This phenomenon was only observed in OC-Catnb and OC-Catnb:Osx mice. Scale bars: 400 μm (top), 20 μm (middle), 50 μm (bottom). D, dentin; AB, alveolar bone; PDL, periodontal ligament; C, cementum. Thickness of the cervical cementum (b) and area of the apical cellular cementum (c) in each group. Values were measured with the distal root of the mandibular first molar. Data represent the mean ± SD of three measurements of five representative slides from each group. Significance was assigned for p-values as indicated.
