title: Immunocytochemical detection of S-100beta in the periodontal Ruffini endings in the rat incisor.
abstract: Subcellular localization of S-100 protein, a kind of calcium binding proteins, was examined immunohistochemically in the Ruffini ending, a primary mechanoreceptor, in the periodontal ligament of the rat incisor. The periodontal ligament of the rat incisor was found to contain many S-100beta-immunoreactive (-IR) structures but no S-100alpha-IR elements. The S-100beta-IR structures ramified extensively to form Ruffini endings and were frequently associated with round cells, the terminal Schwann cells, which also showed S-100beta-like immunoreactivity. In many periodontal Ruffini endings, S-100beta-IR products were recognized in the cytoplasm of Schwann cells, but not in the axoplasm. However, some axon terminals which had fewer or shorter axonal fingers, were filled with S-100beta-IR products. The present findings indicated the existence of S-100beta, not S-100alpha, in axon terminals of the periodontal mechanoreceptive endings which were identified as type II Ruffini endings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Niigata University School of Dentistry, Japan. ohshima@dent.niigata-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakakura-Ohshima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Atsumi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakisaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nozawa-Inoue
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007180:Incisor / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins