The purpose of this research is to continue to analyze sensory mechanisms in dental tissue. Since teeth primarily sense pain, these studies will improve our understanding of basic pain mechanisms. Comparisons of tooth pain receptors with those responsible for touch sensitivity will help define structural features unique to each type. Studies of developing, injured or inflamed teeth will help to understand the increased sensitivity associated with tooth maturation or with tissue damage. The response of sensory innervation to tissue healing will also be studied. Finally, analysis of sensory innervation in a variety of phylogenetic and functional types of teeth will help to understand the interactions between sensory receptors, pulp cells, dentin, enamel and specific tooth function. The following studies are proposed: Continued studies of the distribution of sensory receptors in teeth and their supporting tissues, of the ultrastructure of these receptors and of their interactions with associated cells. Electron microscopy, autoradiography, peroxidase cytochemistry, special stains, and immunohistochemical techniques will be used. Teeth of cats, rats, mice, rabbits and oppossum will be included, as well as extracted human teeth. Using rat and cat teeth, we will also study single dental receptors after functional identification; receptor location, ultrastructure and interaction with pulp cells in injured (drilled) teeth and during repair of injury; receptor structure and function in inflamed teeth; and cytochemistry of sensory receptors in normal or neurotoxin denervated teeth. The long-range objective of this work is to improve our understanding of basic cellular events underlying pain in order to improve treatment of pain.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE005159-09
Application #
3219258
Study Section
Oral Biology and Medicine Study Section (OBM)
Project Start
1979-05-01
Project End
1989-04-30
Budget Start
1987-05-01
Budget End
1988-04-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
135646524
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Byers, Margaret R; Westenbroek, Ruth E (2011) Odontoblasts in developing, mature and ageing rat teeth have multiple phenotypes that variably express all nine voltage-gated sodium channels. Arch Oral Biol 56:1199-220
Veerayutthwilai, O; Byers, M R; Pham, T-T T et al. (2007) Differential regulation of immune responses by odontoblasts. Oral Microbiol Immunol 22:5-13
Veerayutthwilai, Orapin; Luis, Nadyne A; Crumpton, Rosa M et al. (2006) Peripherin- and CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers in rat molars have different locations and developmental timing. Arch Oral Biol 51:748-60
Heyeraas, K J; Kim, S; Raab, W H et al. (1994) Effect of electrical tooth stimulation on blood flow, interstitial fluid pressure and substance P and CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the low compliant cat dental pulp. Microvasc Res 47:329-43
Sugaya, A; Chudler, E H; Byers, M R (1994) Uptake of exogenous fluorescent Di-I by intact junctional epithelium of adult rats allows retrograde labeling of trigeminal sensory neurons. Brain Res 653:330-4
Redd, P E; Byers, M R (1994) Regeneration of junctional epithelium and its innervation in adult rats: a study using immunocytochemistry for p75 nerve growth factor receptor and calcitonin gene-related peptide. J Periodontal Res 29:214-24
Nahin, R L; Byers, M R (1994) Adjuvant-induced inflammation of rat paw is associated with altered calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity within cell bodies and peripheral endings of primary afferent neurons. J Comp Neurol 349:475-85
Byers, M R (1994) Dynamic plasticity of dental sensory nerve structure and cytochemistry. Arch Oral Biol 39 Suppl:13S-21S
Byers, M R; Taylor, P E (1993) Effect of sensory denervation on the response of rat molar pulp to exposure injury. J Dent Res 72:613-8
Heyeraas, K J; Kvinnsland, I; Byers, M R et al. (1993) Nerve fibers immunoreactive to protein gene product 9.5, calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P, and neuropeptide Y in the dental pulp, periodontal ligament, and gingiva in cats. Acta Odontol Scand 51:207-21

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