Examination and pursuit of autologous nerve transplantation using dental pulp

2009 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19791477
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Surgical dentistry
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: MATSUSHITA Kazuhiro Hokkaido University, 大学院・歯学研究科, 助教 (10399933)
• Project Period (FY): 2007 – 2009
• Keywords: 歯髄 / 神経移植 / 神経再生

Research Abstract

We investigated whether dental pulp could be a candidate for graft in a xeno-graft model. It was obtained from the vital extracted tooth for orthodontic treatment, and then treated with freezing and thawing method for killing viable cells and for reducing antigenicity. After putting the dental pulp into chitosan tube, it was transplanted into transected sciatic nerve. Eight weeks after transplantation, regenerated nerve was obviously observed on microscopic investigation, although the mini fascicles were localized and the number of them was small. Anti-neurofilament and Anti-S-100 antibody indicated regeneration as well, suggesting that remaining Schwann cell basal laminae in the pulp acted as a scaffold. Taken together, dental pulp nerve could be a good candidate for nerve grafting in a xeno-graft model.