Distribution of substance P-like immunoreactive fibers in feline temporomandibular joint.
OBJECTIVE
To study the distribution of substance P-like immunoreactive fibers in feline temporomandibular joint.


METHODS
The immunohistochemical PAP method was used for the investigation of the distribution of substance P-like immunoreactive fibers in feline temporomandibular joint.


RESULTS
The TMJ capsule and the anterior and posterior disc attachments all contained SP-immunoreactive nerve fibers, but the medium fibers in diameter were mainly observed. The density of the distribution of SP-positive nerve fibers was the highest in the subsynovium of the TMJ capsule. The density of distribution was similar in the anterior and posterior disc attachments, but lower than in the subsynovium and the lateral joint capsule. Such fibers in the synovial membrane were sparser, and a part of the fibers were seen around the thin blood vessels in all the foregoing tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide the morphological data for exploring the neurobiological mechanisms of temporomandibular joint disorder and its pain.
Liu
J
J
Department of Oral Anatomy and Physiology, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical College (ZMC), Zunyi 563003, P. R. China.
Xu
Y H
YH
Li
Y Q
YQ
Xing
F Y
FY
D000818:Animals; D012898:Autacoids / Q000032:analysis*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000294:innervation; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation*; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000294:innervation
D012898:Autacoids; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; C016116:substance P-like peptides; D013373:Substance P