title: [Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in dental pulp during root development of permanent teeth].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expressed in normal human dental pulp at different root development stages of permanent teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the teeth root development status, the pulp tissues were classified into three groups: root just starting development, being in development and apical closed. The pulps were immunohistochemically examined by use of bFGF antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Staining was strongly positive in immature permanent teeth, especially at the stage of root just starting development. Image analysis indicated that the gray values of positive reaction in three groups were statistically different (P < 0.001). For the first group, the gray value of the outer pulp was higher than that of the pulp core. For the second group, the pulp core has a higher gray value in the coronal pulp, while a lower value in root pulp compared to the outer pulp.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the development of root formation, the expression of bFGF in dental pulp shows different characteristics. bFGF may play a role in dental pulp development and maturation.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pedodontics, College of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110002, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhao-yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000378:metabolism*; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009805:Odontogenesis; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2