It is proposed that formation and resorption related effects identified at the mesial and distal complexes are prompted by cellular activity equivalent to tension- and compression-strain gradients within respective complexes and at the soft-hard tissue interfaces. Mineral formation in a bone-tooth complex can be first identified at the osteoid and the precementum layers. However, based on our results, formation does not only occur at the interfaces. Mineral resorption related events also occur, but more specifically at the distal side complex. To better understand events responsible for formation and resorption of bone and cementum the localization of load resisting and dampening biochemical molecules, namely the higher molecular weight PGs using alcian blue, and lower molecular weights using immunohistochemistry, were targeted. It is known that PGs in general are also. responsible for water retention, fibrillogenesis, and the maintenance of tissue architecture and strain relieving properties. Specifically, we identified PGs at the mesial and distal sites within the dynamic bone-tooth complex. Biomolecules are also chemotactic agents that facilitate durotaxis, the stiffness dependent migration of cells. The location and intensity of these biomolecules during development is dictated by genetic inheritance, but is predominantly governed by function when in growth. Regardless, in both development and PF-04217903 c-Met inhibitor growth, PGs are responsible for maintaining the organic matrix upon which mineral formation or resorption can occur. Moreover, this implies that in compressed regions, mineral resorbing molecules would be more dominant, in contrast to tension regions that would contain more mineral forming molecules. In this study, biochemical events were mapped at a macroscale using alcian blue and more locally by identifying SLRP localization. Interestingly, alcian blue stained sulfated GAGs were identified in newly formed bone sites, as confirmed by others. We also observed increasing gradients of sulfated GAGs on the mesial sides of PDL-bone and PDL-cementum sites, as indicated by alcian blue stains at these respective regions. We observed GAG localization in regions of decreased osteoclastic activity by correlating alcian blue stain with TRAP positive stain. With age, an increase in GAG localization was observed at PDL-PC, while decreases at PDL-SC and PDLbone occurred until distal-mesial regions became comparable. We hypothesize that these localizations can be related to BIBW2992 company Increased tensile strains in the coronal portion of the bone- PDL-cementum complex and at the attachment sites. Increased strains can be attributed to changes in organic to inorganic ratios as a result of function related active mineral formation and resorption in bone and cementum with age. Higher levels of tenascin and fibronectin, including other SLRPs noted in our study, were also identified at the attachment sites.