Immunocytochemical localization of claudin 1 in the maturation ameloblasts of rat incisors

• Main Authors: Sumio eNishikawa, Michio eAbe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2010-11-01
• Series: Frontiers in Physiology
• Subjects: Amelogenesis; claudin 1; immunofluorescence microscopy; ruffle-ended ameloblasts; smooth-ended ameloblasts; tight junction
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphys.2010.00150/full

Claudin 1 is a tight junction transmembrane protein. Its localization in the maturation ameloblasts of rat incisors was examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Distal junction area of ruffle-ended ameloblasts (RA) and the Golgi apparatus of a sub-population of smooth-ended ameloblasts (SA) and RAs stained positive with anti-claudin 1 antibodies. Since it has been shown that ameloblasts repeatedly alternate between an SA and an RA morphology during enamel maturation, the presence of claudin 1 in the Golgi cisterns may indicate the presence of tight junction precursors before transportation to the junctional area.