title: Absence of lymphatic vessels in human dental pulp: a morphological study.
abstract: Few and controversial data are available in the literature regarding the presence of lymphatic vessels in the human dental pulp. The present study was designed to examine morphologically the existence of a lymph drainage system in human dental pulp. Human dental pulp and skin sections were immunohistochemically stained with specific antibodies for lymphatic endothelium (D2-40, LYVE-1, VEGFR-3 [vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3], and Prox-1), with the pan-endothelial markers CD31 and von Willebrand factor (vWF), and with the blood-specific marker CD34. Several blood vessels were identified in human pulps and skin. Lymphatic vessels were found in all human skin samples but in none of the pulps examined. Western blotting performed on human dermis and on pulps treated with collagenase (to remove odontoblasts) confirmed these results. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that vessels which, by light microscopy, appeared to be initial lymphatic vessels had no anchoring filaments or discontinuous basement membrane, both of which are typical ultrastructural characteristics of lymphatic vessels. These results suggest that under normal conditions human dental pulp does not contain true lymphatic vessels. The various theories about dental pulp interstitial fluid circulation should be revised accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Molecular Medicine Section, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerli
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Secciani
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sozio
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lorenzini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004729:Endothelium, Lymphatic / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D052816:Foreskin / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000032:analysis; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C119248:LYVE1 protein, human; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; C500987:monoclonal antibody D2-40; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3