Nerve growth factor receptor-like immunoreactivity in primary and permanent canine tooth pulps of the cat.
The distribution of nerve growth factor receptor (NGF receptor)-like immunoreactivity in pulps of developing primary and mature permanent cat canine teeth was examined, by use of a monoclonal antibody against NGF receptor detected by fluorescence immunohistochemistry and pre-embedding immunocytochemical light- and electron microscopy. Both primary and permanent pulps contained a vast number of NGF receptor-like immunoreactive nerves. Immunolabelling appeared to be localized both to axons and Schwann cells. In addition, many blood vessel walls in immature primary tooth pulps showed NGF receptor-like immunoreactivity, in contrast to permanent pulps where blood vessels rarely were NGF receptor-immunoreactive. Double-labelling immunofluorescence experiments revealed that in the permanent pulp a majority of the NGF receptor-positive nerves also showed calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivity, and many showed substance P-like immunoreactivity. However, nerve fibers with neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity lacked NGF receptor-like immunoreactivity. In developing primary tooth pulps fewer NGF receptor-positive nerves were CGRP-like immunoreactive or substance P-like immunoreactive, as compared to the permanent pulp. Neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactive nerve fibers were not detected in the primary tooth pulp. The results suggest a role for nerve growth factor in both developing and mature sensory nerves of the tooth pulp.
Fried
K
K
Department of Anatomy, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Risling
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor