Open Access

Spatial and temporal expression of Smad signaling members during the development of mandibular condylar cartilage

  • Authors:
    • Di Xiao
    • Ru Wang
    • Jing Hu
    • Huixin Quan
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 22, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5186
  • Pages: 4967-4971
  • Copyright: © Xiao et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the underlying developmental mechanism of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad) signaling in the development of mandibular condylar cartilage. To achieve this, the expression levels of Smad2, 3, 4 and 7, and phosphorylated Smad2/3 were investigated at different time points in developing mandibular condylar cartilage. Mandibular condyles from C57BL/6J mice were dissected at the prenatal and postnatal stages. Serial sections were made and the distributions of Smad proteins were examined using immunohistochemical techniques intermittently between day 14.5 of gestation and postnatal day 7. All Smad proteins examined in the present study were expressed in the condylar blastema and during early chondrogenesis. At the postnatal stage, Smad2 and 4 were localized in proliferative and mineralized hypertrophic chondrocytes. Smad3 and 7 were expressed in proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocytes, including pre‑hypertrophic and mineralized hypertrophic chondrocytes. Later, positive immunoreactivity of Smad3 reduced at postnatal day 7. A similar expression pattern to Smad3 was observed for p‑Smad2/3, but p‑Smad2/3 was located in the nuclei of proliferative chondrocytes. These results suggest that Smad signaling members are involved in the development of mandibular condylar cartilage. In addition, the spatial and temporal expression of these Smads indicate that Smad signaling is involved in regulating the differentiation of chondrocytes and endochondral ossification, in order to maintain normal chondrogenesis and morphogenesis of mandibular condylar cartilage.
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November-2017
Volume 14 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Xiao D, Wang R, Hu J and Quan H: Spatial and temporal expression of Smad signaling members during the development of mandibular condylar cartilage. Exp Ther Med 14: 4967-4971, 2017
APA
Xiao, D., Wang, R., Hu, J., & Quan, H. (2017). Spatial and temporal expression of Smad signaling members during the development of mandibular condylar cartilage. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 14, 4967-4971. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5186
MLA
Xiao, D., Wang, R., Hu, J., Quan, H."Spatial and temporal expression of Smad signaling members during the development of mandibular condylar cartilage". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14.5 (2017): 4967-4971.
Chicago
Xiao, D., Wang, R., Hu, J., Quan, H."Spatial and temporal expression of Smad signaling members during the development of mandibular condylar cartilage". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14, no. 5 (2017): 4967-4971. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5186