Immunohistochemical Expresssion of osterix in the mouse periodontal tissues due to mechanical stress

Expression of Osterix was Immunohistochemically examined in the orthodontic periodontal tissues of mice, using Waldo method. In the experimental 3-hour specimens, the weakly expression of Osterix in the pressure and tension sides was observed. In 9-hour specimen, the expression became stronger and some were observed within the nucleus of the periodontal fibroblasts. 24-hour specimens showed the immunohistochemical expression strongly appeared. After that, there was strong expression mainly in the tension sides. The results lead us to believe Osterix is located in the upper stream of BMP and Runx2, and promote osteoblastic differentiation at the early phase in the tension sides.