Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) is a member of the TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) family whose members play key roles in development, suppression of tumour growth, and feedback control of the pituitary-gonadal hormone axis. MIS is expressed in a highly tissue-specific manner in which it is restricted to male Sertoli cells and female granulose cells. The serum levels of MIS in prenatal and postnatal ICR mice were measured using the enzymelinked immuno-solvent assay (ELISA) using the MIS/AMH antibody. Mice were grouped by age: the significant periods were at the onset of development. During sex organ differentiation, no remarkable difference between female and male foetus MIS serum levels (both<0.1 ng/ml) was observed. However, MIS serum levels in pregnant mice markedly changed (4.5～12.2 ng/ml). After birth, postnatal female and male mice serum MIS levels changed considerably (male: <0.1～138.5 ng/ml, female: 5.3～103.4 ng/ml), and the changing phase were diametrically opposed (male: decreasing, female: fluctuating). These findings suggest that MIS may have strong associations with not only develop- ment but also puberty. For further studies, establishing the standard MIS serum levels is of importance. Our study provides the basic information for the study of MIS interactions with reproductive organ disability, cancer, and the effect of other hormone or menopause. We hypothesise that if MIS is regularly injected into middle-age women, meno- pause will be delayed. We detected that serum MIS concentration curves change with age. The changing phase is different between males and females, and this difference is significant after birth. Moreover, MIS mRNA is expressed during the developmental period (prenatal) and also in the postnatal period. This finding indicates that MIS may play a significant role in the developmental stage and in growth after birth.

The primary growth center (MdPGC) of human fetal mandible was conspicuously distinguished in the soft X-ray view of fetal mandibles.1) As the peripheral adaptive growth of mandible advanced during the postnatal period, the MdPGC became overshadowed by condensed cortical bone. However, in the well-processed radiograms of adult mandible a condensed radiopaque image, measuring 0.5-1.0 cm in diameter, can be observed below the apex of first premolar. In this study we aimed to trace a sclerotic sequela of mandibular primary growth center during postnatal period. Panoramic radiograms of two hundreds adults and soft X-ray views of thirty dry mandible were analyzed by statistical methods. The adult MdPGC was clearly distinguishable from the mental foramen. The area of MdPGC was seldom changed in the older persons, even in the edentulous mandibles. Additionally, the benign lesions of odontogenic cysts and tumors hardly destroyed the original structure of MdPGC, while the malignant tumors of squamous cell carcinoma and metastatic cancer rapidly destroyed and resolved the radiopaque area of the MdPGC.