Tooth development shows dynamic morphological changes from the stages of cap to hard tissue formation and is strictly regulated during development. In the present study, we compared expression and localization of 3 major enamel matrix proteins in rats: amelogenin, enamel and ameloblastin. DD-PCR and RT-PCR revealed differential expression of the major proteins from the cap stage to root stage. Immunofluorescence staining results indicated that amelogenin was not detected in either inner enamel epithelium or reduced enamel epithelium, but highly immunoreactive in preameloblasts and ameloblasts; in addition, it was sporadically expressed in preodontoblasts abutting preameloblasts. Ameloblastin expression was also observed in not only differentiated ameloblasts but also osteoblasts. Immunoreactivity to ameloblastin in ameloblasts was strong in Tomes' processes. Enamelin was exclusively localized along the entire newly formed and maturing enamel. Enamelin was largely localized in near Tomes' processes and enamel rods in maturing enamel. Alendronate treatment resulted in down-regulation of amelogenin and ameloblastin at both transcription and translation levels; whereas, enamelin expression was unchanged in response to the treatment. These results suggested that amelogenin, ameloblastin and enamelin might be implicated in cell differentiation, adhesion of ameloblasts to enamel and enamel crystallization during enamel matrix formation, respectively.

• Jung-Ha Kim(Dental Science Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea)
• Hyun-Jin Kim(Institute of Biomaterial⋅Implant, Department of Oral Anatomy, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan Korea)
• Byong-Soo Kim(Dental Science Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea)
• Jee-Hae Kang(Dental Science Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea)
• Min-Seok Kim(Dental Science Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea)
• Eun-Joo Lee(Dental Science Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea)
• Sun-Hun Kim(Dental Science Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea) Correspondence to