• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.372-380
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) containing nerve fivers after pulp exposure in rats. The Spague-Dawley rats weighing about 250 - 300g were used. The animals were devided into normal control group and experimental groups. Experimental animals were sacrified on 2, 4, 7, 10 days after pulp exposure. The maxillary teeth and alveolar bone were removed and immersed in the 4% paraformaldehyde plus 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Serial frozen $50{\mu}m$ thick sections were cut with a cryostat. In the immunohistochemical staining procedure, the rabbit CGRP antibody was used as a primary antibody. The sections were incubated for 48 hours at $4^{\circ}C$, and placed into biotinylated anti-rabbit IgG as a secondary antibody and incubated in ABC (avidin-biotin complex), The sections were visualized by 0.05% 3.3 diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride. The results of this study were as follows: 1. In control group, CGRP containing nerve fibers ran parallel to the long axis of root and reached the coronal pulp. They were distributed on Raschkow plexus under the odontoblastic layer. 2. In 2 day group after pulp exposure, tissue necrosis and acute inflammation occurred and CGRP containing nerve fibers increased. In 4 day group, the necrotic tissue extended to the pulp and CGRP containing nerve fibers were distributed around the inflammation zone. 3. In 7 day group after pulp exposure, pulp necrosis occurred, and in 10 day group, the abscess under the necrotic pulp extended to the root apex area and CGRP containing nerve fibers were not observed in root canals. 4.The sprouting of CGRP nerve fibers was most remarkable at the pulp chamber under injury in 4 day group, and it was found at inflammation zone under the necrotic tissue in 7 day group and the remaining root pulp tissue in 10 day group. As mentioned above, CGRP nerve fibers had a tendency to increase around the inflammatory zone, especially around the acute inflammation tissue, when compared with control group. It is suggested that CGRP nerve fibers maybe related to the control of inflammatory response of pulp tissue.