Journal of Dental Research, Vol 70, 87-89, Copyright © 1991 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Immunocytochemical evidence for the presence of somatostatin-like immunoreactive nerves in human dental pulp
A. Casasco, A. Calligaro, M. Casasco, D. R. Springall, J. M. Polak and C. Marchetti
Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Pavia, Italy.
Specific antiserum to somatostatin was used for the immunocytochemical
detection of this neuropeptide in human dental pulp. Immunoreactive axon
varicosities were observed in the radicular as well as coronal pulp. Fibers
displaying somatostatin-like immunoreactivity were detectable within
radicular nerve trunks and were found to be associated mainly with blood
vessels. Nevertheless, positive fibers with no apparent relation to blood
vessels were also observed. No pulp cell was found to be immunoreactive.
Previous physiological studies demonstrated that somatostatin may function
as a regulatory peptide in feline dental pulp via a pre-synaptic inhibition
of substance P release from sensory nerve terminals. It is tempting to
speculate that such a mechanism may also be effective in human teeth and
may be of value in the regulation of pulpal blood flow and in situations
when sensory nerve fibers are activated, e.g., during pulpal inflammation.
