title: Neurokinin A-like immunoreactivity in feline dental pulp: its distribution, origin and coexistence with substance P-like immunoreactivity.
abstract: The distribution and origin of neurokinin A (NKA)-like immunoreactivity were investigated in feline dental pulp by an indirect immunofluorescence method. NKA-containing nerve fibres with varicosities, which entered the dental pulp via apical foramen, were distributed throughout this tissue. Many NKA-containing nerve fibres were localized around blood vessels, but some were observed apart therefrom. At the odontoblastic layer, thin NKA-containing nerve fibres were observed running straight toward the pulp-predentinal border between odontoblasts. After inferior alveolar nerve section, all NKA-containing nerve fibres disappeared in the dental pulp, while the removal of the superior cervical ganglion resulted in no change in the distribution of these fibres. The correlation of NKA-like immunoreactivity and substance P (SP)-like immunoreactivity was also investigated by double-immunofluorescence technique. The distribution of NKA-containing nerve fibres was very similar to that of SP-containing nerve fibres; it appeared that all NKA-containing nerve fibres contained SP.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology* / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007106:Immune Sera; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000166:cytology*; D015288:Neurokinin A; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; D009479:Neuropeptides; D013373:Substance P; D015288:Neurokinin A