title: Involvement of microglial activation in the brainstem in experimental dental injury and inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dental injury and inflammation on microglia in the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pulp exposure (PX) was performed on the first maxillary molar of 35 rats. Specimens were collected at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after PX. Teeth were processed for H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining for OX-42, a marker of microgial activation, in the Vc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed that there was a progressive and persistent inflammation in the tooth. At 21-28 days after PX, the inflammation extended out into periodontal ligament. Simultaneously, significant microglial activation was observed which starting at 2 weeks and peaking at 4 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental injury and inflammation induced microglial activation in the Vc. The results indicate that activation of microglia may be implicated in the central mechanisms of pain that can be associated with dental inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Anatomy and Physiology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Wenguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Zhixiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Dongpei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongwen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology*; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D014278:Trigeminal Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein