title: Functional maturation of periodontal mechanoreceptors during development in rats.
abstract: The influence of development on periodontal mechanoreceptors (PMRs) was investigated in four groups of male Wistar albino rats aged 1, 3, 5 weeks and 6 months using an in vitro jaw-nerve preparation. The mean values of conduction velocities of the nerve innervating PMRs in 5-week and 6-month groups were significantly higher than those in the other two groups. All fiber types obtained in the 5-week and 6-month groups were Abeta. The mechanical thresholds of 5-week and 6-month groups were significantly higher than those of 1- and 3-week groups. These data suggest that the response properties of rat's PMRs are matured by 5-week after birth, when functional molar occlusion and transition of dietary contents from liquid to hard-diet can be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Orthodontic Science, Department of Orofacial Development and Function, Division of Oral Health Science, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan. jarkoni@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Fajar Hamonangan
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Nasution
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: Kunimichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soma
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000254:growth & development / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology