title: Arteriovenous shunts demonstrated in the apical circulation of rat incisor teeth by the use of radio-labeled microspheres.
abstract: The distribution of systemically introduced 85Sr-labeled tracer microspheres to unexposed and previously exposed rat lower incisor tooth pulps was investigated. Fewer tracer microspheres entered the microcirculation of pulps that had been previously exposed as compared to control unexposed pulps. The presence of large numbers of dilated blood vessels in the apical tissues of teeth with exposed pulps was observed, and it is postulated that these vessels may be operating as arteriovenous anastomoses so that the pulpal microcirculation of teeth with inflamed pulps is bypassed by the tracer microspheres. The possible clinical significance of these findings is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001163:Arteriovenous Anastomosis; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply*; D007180:Incisor / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008863:Microspheres; D051381:Rats; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes
chemical_list: D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes