Growth-associated protein-43 immunoreactivity in human oral mucosa in dentate subjects, in edentulous patients and after implant-anchored rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates expression of the neural growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) in the oral mucosa of (A) normal dentate subjects, (B) edentulous patients rehabilitated with conventional denture and (C) those rehabilitated with mandibular implant-retained overdentures (MIR-OVD), in the long term. This study evaluates morphological changes in the distribution and representation of sensory terminations and corpuscles in the alveolar mucosa under the action of different masticatory or prosthetic loads, in the three clinical groups.


METHODS
GAP-43 immunoreactivity (-ir) was compared with the distribution of nerves fibres in the mucosa, as visualised using anti-protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), a general marker for peripheral nerves and terminals.


RESULTS
GAP-43-ir was found to be highly expressed in the corium and submucosa in specimens from edentulous subjects wearing conventional denture and presenting a reduced number of PGP 9.5-ir nerves in the mucosa, but not in specimens from control subjects or patients wearing MIR-OVD, which on the contrary show a higher number of PGP 9.5-ir mucosal sensory fibres.


CONCLUSIONS
As the mucosa under traditional denture has been shown to possess reduced innervation and the histological aspect of chronic overloading, these results may be considered indicative of a tentative induction to nerve re-growth in the under-innervated epithelium, or as a response to chronic inflammation. The detection of GAP-43-ir suggests that human oral mucosa presents signs of potential nerve plasticity also in the elderly, and that the type of rehabilitation and the condition of masticatory load transfer to the mucosa have important effects on the nerves underneath.
Ramieri
Guglielmo A
GA
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Schierano
Gianmario
G
Spada
Maria Cristina
MC
Giovando
Maria Luisa
ML
Verzè
Laura
L
Preti
Giulio
G
D000328:Adult; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000737:chemistry; D016474:Weight-Bearing
D019922:GAP-43 Protein