| Research Abstract |
Calcium-binding proteins (CaBP) are a family of proteins with high affinity for binding calcium ions and may participate in important processes by changing the intracellular calcium concentrations.In the present project, we investigated the distribution of CaBP such as calbindin D28k (CB), calretinin (CR) and S1OObeta in the dental pulp, periodontal ligament and taste buds during development and regeneration.In addition, since some CaBP co-localized with carbonic anhydrase isozyme II (CA II) in certain neurons, we examined the distribution of CA II.
In the dental pulp, CB was localized in the axons of dental pulp of the rat molar. Some nerve fibers penetrating the predentin are immunoreactive for CB.S1OObeta, which has been long believed to be a marker for Schwann cells, is also present in the axons.It is known that periodontal ligament abundantly contains Ruffini endings.The axon terminals of Ruffini endings contain CB, CR, S1OObeta and CA II.During development and regeneration of Ruffini endings, expression of CR was delayed.In the taste buds, type III cells (gustatory cells) contained CB, while type I cells (supporting cells) contained CA II.The expression of CB in the taste buds during development and regeneration delayed compared with appearance of the taste buds.In the periodontal ligament of the adult animal, CB was localized in the certain cells of the epithelial rest of Malassez, cells between root dentin and cementum and some fibroblasts.During root formation, some epithelial cells began to express CB after the fragmentation of the Hertwig's epithelial sheath.Expression of CB in the periodontal fibroblasts started after the commencement of the occlusion.These evidences suggest that CaBP have important roles in the mechano-transduction of periodontal Ruffini endings, maintenance of taste buds cells, and survival of epithelial cells and fibroblasts in the periodontal ligament.
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