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Expression of SPARC and the osteopontin‐like protein during skeletal development in the cichlid fish Oreochromis mossambicus
Author(s) -
Weigele Jochen,
FranzOdendaal Tamara A.,
Hilbig Reinhard
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.24293
Subject(s) - osteopontin , cichlid , biology , chondrogenesis , ossification , cartilage , calcification , extracellular matrix , fish <actinopterygii> , matrix (chemical analysis) , anatomy , osteonectin , mesenchymal stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , osteocalcin , endocrinology , medicine , alkaline phosphatase , biochemistry , fishery , chemistry , chromatography , enzyme
Background: Bones are mainly composed of calcium hydroxyapatite and a proteinous matrix. In this study, we focus on the bone matrix proteins, the fish osteopontin orthologous protein (osteopontin‐like protein; OP‐L) and SPARC, because the current knowledge regarding their expression is fragmentary or contradictory. Results: We first provide a comprehensive and detailed description of skeletal development in the cichlid fish Oreochromis mossambicus . Following this, we analyzed the expression pattern of OP‐L and SPARC in detail during development. OP‐L expression was only found in tissues that undergo ossification (i.e., developing bones and teeth). Furthermore, we show that there is a fundamental difference in cartilage formation of the splanchnocranium and all other cartilages, concerning SPARC expression. Significantly, we show that the initial calcification of cranial bones occurs simultaneously with the expression of OP‐L and SPARC in the osteoblast‐like cells, which appear early in development. Conclusions: The difference in SPARC expression during chondrogenesis of the splanchnocranium is likely based on its different evolutionary history compared with the dermatocranium and chondrocranium. Moreover, our results suggest a co‐occurrence of the initial calcium deposition and bone matrix protein expression during osteogenesis. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of fish skeletal development and evolution. Developmental Dynamics 244:955–972, 2015 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.