title: Histologic evaluation and immunohistochemical localization of STRO-1 and BMP-4 in rat immature teeth: a comparison between vital and induced pulp necrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess histological features and the expression of STRO-1 and BMP-4 in dental pulp and periapical tissues in vital or necrotic rat immature teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  The lower left first molars of male Wistar rats ageing four weeks (n=24) had their pulps exposed to the oral environment for 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks (animals ageing 7, 10, 13 and 16 weeks-old, respectively; n=24). The right lower first molars served as control untouched teeth. After sample harvesting the jaws were dissected and processed for histology and immunodetection of STRO-1 and BMP-4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Necrotic teeth had root development arrested, while control animals showed development of dental tissues. Immunohistochemistry showed that detection of BMP-4 was restricted to vital pulps. For both groups, STRO-1 expression was evident around blood vessels walls. Neither BMP-4 nor STRO-1 was observed in the apical papilla region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STRO-1-positive precursor cells were not detected in the apical papilla. BMP-4 expression has not been detected during infection.
authors.affiliation: Conservative Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. daibottcher@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Daiana Elisabeth
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Böttcher
authors.forename: Roberta Kochenborger
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Scarparo
authors.forename: Eraldo Luiz
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: Anna Christina Medeiros
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Fossati
authors.forename: Fabiana Soares
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Grecca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010486:Periapical Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; C527498:STRO-1 antigen, rat
keywords: Dental pulp; Endodontics; Immature necrotic teeth; Mesenchymal stem cells