Central distribution of nociceptive intradental afferent nerve fibers in the rat.
The central distribution of intradental afferent nerve fibers was investigated by combining electron microscopic observations with a selective method for inducing degeneration of the A delta- and C-type afferent fibers. Degenerating terminals were found on the proprioceptive mesencephalic trigeminal neurons and on dendrites in the neuropil of the trigeminal motor nucleus after application of capsaicin to the rat's lower incisor tooth pulp. The results give anatomical evidence of new sites of central projection of intradental A delta- and C-type fibers whereby the nociceptive information from the tooth pulp can affect jaw muscle activity.
Bombardi
C
C
Dipartimento di Morfofisiologia Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
Chiocchetti
R
R
Brunetti
O
O
Grandis
A
A
Lucchi
M L
ML
Bortolami
R
R
D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000294:innervation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007568:Jaw / Q000294:innervation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014278:Trigeminal Nuclei / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*