Immunohistochemical Study Of The Heterogeneity Of Tenascin Distribution Within The Oral-Mucosa Of The Mouse

Immunohistochemical labelling of adult mouse oral mucosa revealed a heterogeneous distribution of the extracellular matrix glycoprotein, tenascin. In masticatory mucosa (palate and gingiva), tenascin was selectively localized to the tips of connective tissue papillae, whilst in lining mucosa (ventral tongue, buccal, labial and vestibular) it was more uniformly distributed in the basement membrane. Tenascin was restricted to the connective tissue of specialized papillary tips in the dorsal lingual mucosa. The heterogeneous distribution of tenascin may be linked to mechanical function, proliferative organization within the overlying epithelium or to continuing epithelial-mesenchymal interactions.