| Project/Area Number |
07457435
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Morphological basic dentistry
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| Research Institution | Matsumoto Dental University |
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Principal Investigator |
INOUE Katsuhiro Matsumoto Dental University ; Institute for Dental Science ; Professor, 総合歯科医学研究所, 教授 (70018422)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1995 – 1996
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 1996)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥6,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,300,000)
Fiscal Year 1996: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Fiscal Year 1995: ¥5,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,700,000)
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| Keywords | catecholamine / enzyme / dopa / dental pulp / human / 神経 / 免疫組織化学 |
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| Research Abstract |
The relatively large amounts of DOPA as compared with the concentration of norepinephrine are found in human dental pulp. Local production of catecholamines in the human dental pulp was studied by immunocytochemical demonstration of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT), the enzymes catalyzing the formation of DOPA,dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, respectively. A rich innervation of TH- and AADC-immunoreactive nerve fibers was seen around the arterioles. The fine beaded immunoreactive varicosities of the DBH were found on the wall of arterioles. TH-immunoreactive nerve fibers were also observed in the cell rich zone. No specific PNMT immunoreactivity was observed. The results suggest that some norve fibers in the human dental pulp may synthesize norepinephrine as an end-product of catecholamine biosynthesis. AADC and COMT are localized in blood vessel walls of human dental pulp. This localization suggests a functional relationship between COMT and AADC with regard to the metabolism of DOPA.The endothelial cells of the arteriole contained COMT.This results suggest an enzymatic barrier to catecholamines ; a possible blood-dental pulp barrier. COMT activity in endothelial cells of vascular wall, by providing a means for the inactivation of catechols, may be an important mechanism for neurohormonal regulation of the blood flow and blood pressure under normal conditions. AADC was present in the smooth muscle cells of the arteriole. These smooth muscle cells of the arteriole may play a role like APUD cells.
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