Capacity of dental pulp differentiation after tooth transplantation

Cell Tissue Res. 2006 Dec;326(3):715-24. doi: 10.1007/s00441-006-0242-0. Epub 2006 Jul 25.

Abstract

Under pathological conditions, dental pulp elaborates both bone and dentin matrix in which the contribution of periodontal tissue cannot be excluded. This study has aimed to clarify the capability of dental pulp to deposit bone matrix in an auto-graft experiment by using (1) immunohistochemistry for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and nestin and (2) histochemistry for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). Following the extraction of the molars of 3-week-old mice, the roots and pulp floor were resected and immediately transplanted into the sublingual region. On Days 5-7, tubular dentin formation commenced next to the pre-existing dentin at the pulp horn in which nestin-positive odontoblast-like cells were arranged. Up until Day 14, bone-like tissue formation occurred in the pulp chamber in which intense TRAP-positive cells appeared. These results suggest that odontoblast- and osteoblast-lineage cells reside in the dental pulp. Overall, specific dental pulp regeneration should provide fundamental knowledge for the realization of human tooth regeneration in the near future.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acid Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Dental Pulp / physiology*
  • Dentin / cytology
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins / metabolism
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Models, Biological
  • Molar / transplantation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Nestin
  • Odontoblasts / physiology
  • Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase
  • Time Factors
  • Tooth Extraction

Substances

  • Intermediate Filament Proteins
  • Isoenzymes
  • NES protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nes protein, mouse
  • Nestin
  • Acid Phosphatase
  • Acp5 protein, mouse
  • Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase