Developmental changes and regional differences in histochemical localization of hyaluronan and versican in postnatal molar dental pulp.
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of this study was to investigate the developmental changes in the distribution patterns of hyaluronan (HA) and versican in postnatal rat molar dental pulp, in order to confirm the hypothesis that the distribution of both molecules can vary with physiological conditions in the dental pulp.


METHODS
Thirty postnatal Sprague-Dawley rats, 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days old, were used for this study. Immunohistochemistry for versican with monoclonal antibodies 12C5 and CS-56 and histochemical staining for HA with HA-binding protein were applied to paraffin sections of the mandibular first molars at each age.


RESULTS
At day 1, both molecules were evenly distributed in the interior parts of the pulp, but strong reactions for both molecules appeared in the subodontoblastic layer of the coronal pulp by the completion of crown formation. However, a strong reaction for HA and a weak reaction for versican were seen in the subodontoblastic layer of the radicular pulp. Furthermore, a versican-deficient, low-HA area first appeared in the interior of the coronal pulp at day 42 and expanded at day 49.


CONCLUSIONS
Distribution of hyaluronan and versican in the dental pulp varied with age and also showed regional differences between the coronal and the radicular pulp, and this supports the hypothesis described above.
Shibata
Shunichi
S
Department of Maxillofacial Anatomy, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan. S.Shibata.mfa@tmd.ac.jp
Yoneda
S
S
Yanagishita
M
M
Yamashita
Y
Y
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008963:Molar; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019228:Tooth Crown; D014092:Tooth Root; D053675:Versicans
D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011509:Proteoglycans; C508324:Vcan protein, rat; D053675:Versicans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid