The expression of the homeobox gene Shox2 in the cranial

neural crest derived mesenchymal cells of the maxilla-

mandibular junction.
E10.5 mouse embryo A coronal section of an
A coronal section of an
shows the presence of E11.5 mouse head
E13.5 mouse head
Shox2 transcripts in the shows strong Shox2
shows a restricted
brain, limb buds, and the expression in the
Shox2 expression in
maxillamandibular mesenchymal tissue of
the condylar
junction the maxilla-mandibular
condensation.
junction.
 To study the role of Shox2 in the TMJ development :-
• They took a conditional knockout approach to inactivate Shox2 in the
craniofacial neural crest-derived cells by using a Wnt1-Cre transgenic line
and a floxed Shox2 allele.
The LacZ staining of the Wnt1-Cre;R26R TMJ unambiguously.

Cell proliferation Reduced

in the condylar level of cell
condensation of
proliferation
an E13.5 wild
type embryo.
 shows a distinct synovial
disc and the clearly
separated upper
synovial cavity and lower
synovial cavity
This fibrous adhesion of the joint components,
clinically defined as TMJ ankylosis, could restrain
the jaw movement
shows abnormal fusions
of the disc with condyle
(black arrows) and the
glenoid fossa (open
arrows
TMJ the osteogenic consequence in the absence of Shox2. By using the Azon
red/Anilin blue staining method, which stains bone matrix in red

FC, flattered chondrocyte zone;

F/P. fibrous/polymorphic layers
HC, hypertrophic chondrocyte zone

Appear much thinner, as compared to

the wild type control

Reduced expression of Osteocalcin in

the TMJ