Reclassification of pulpal sensations uisng functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and analysis of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel receptor ptoteins

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24659845
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Conservative dentistry
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: IKEDA Hideharu 東京医科歯科大学, 歯学部附属病院, 講師 (20222896)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 歯髄 / 非侵害性感覚 / fMRI / TRP

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We immunohistochemically confirmed the positive labelling to TRPM8 channel receptor protein antibody was confirmed on freshleyisolated human odontoblast samples.
We could also electrophysiologically record voltage-sensitive curent changes, indicating TRPM8 channel, from freshly isolated human odontoblasts. It was clarified that this detected signal spread three-dimensionally to surrounding odontoblasts in the outermost dental pulp. This spreading was through direction-independent electrical coupling, which contributed to forming a functional synsytium with large electrical capacitance. Three-dimensional tertiary dentin formation was also morphologically observed using µCT tecnique.
We also developed a thermal tooth stimulation system, which would contribute to human thermal sensation experiment using fMRI.

Free Research Field

保存系歯学