Objective: To investigate the effect of VDR deficiency on the expression of biglycan and decorin in dentin formation by immunohistochemistry. Materials and methods: Vdr+/- mouse pairs were mated and the puppies were grouped based on genotyping. Vdr +/+ mice and vdr-/- mice were sacrificed at 45.5 days of life. After fixation and decalcification, the mandibles were cryostat-sectioned as 8µm sections. The sections from three locations in vdr+/+ and vdr-/- mice were used for immunohistochemistry. Rabbit anti biglycan (LF-159) and decorin (LF-113) were used as the primary antibodies, followed by FITC-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG. Non-specific rabbit serum was used as control. All the stained slides were observed under Nikon fluorescence microscope. The images were taken at the matched location. Results: The patterns of the expression of biglycan and decorin were similar in early transition stage of lower incisor between vdr-/- and vdr+/+ mice. The conversion region of predentin to dentin showed very intense signals of biglycan and decorin, however, decorin staining was weaker than biglycan. In late transition and maturation zones of lower incisor of vdr-/- mice, the signals of biglycan and decorin staining were observed much wider in the vdr-/- mice and the intensity was diffuse from predentin layer to dentin and terminated in the middle of mature dentin. No staining was observed in the secretion zone in both vdr-/- and vdr +/+ mice. Conclusion: Based on our observation, it seems vitamin D receptor deficiency plays a important role in the metabolism of biglycan and decorin in the dentin maturation after the conversion of predentin to dentin during the tooth formation. (Supported by T32 DE-14300).

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