Distributions of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in the periodontal ligament and dental pulp of adult rats were studied by light and electron microscopy. The mature periodontal ligament and dental pulp contained numerous GAP-43-positive neural elements, comprising periodontal Ruffini endings and thin nerve fibers, but expression patterns differed among the kinds of nerves. In the periodon...

Background Periodontal disease could be defined as a disorder of supporting structures of teeth, including the gingiva, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Complement and cytokines are believed to be important in periodontal infections .The understanding of interactions between different cytokines,immunoglobulins and complements may help to understand the response of gingiva to inflammation...

Periodontitis is an infectious disease that causes destruction of the tooth-attachment apparatus. Untreated periodontitis results in progressive attachment loss that may eventually lead to early tooth loss. Fortunately, research has provided evidence that in most situations chronic periodontal diseases can be treated [reviewed in Ref. (29)]. There is also evidence that periodontally involved te...

Cyclic compressive force is an important mechanical stimulus on periodontal ligament (PDL). The differential expression of genes in PDL cells is thought to be involved in the remodeling of periodontal tissues subjected to mechanical stress. However, little is known about differentially expressed genes in PDL cells under cyclic compressive force. In our study, human PDL cells were subjected to 4...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the condition and treatment needs of the periodontium in adults living in Podlasie region. Checked population was divided into three groups: 18 year old, 35-44 and 65-74 year old. The assessment of the periodontium status was performed on the basis of CPITN index. The study showed that young people usually did not need any periodontal treatment. The predomi...

The tooth is an ectodermal organ that arises from a tooth germ under the regulation of reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Tooth morphogenesis occurs in the tooth-forming field as a result of reaction-diffusion waves of specific gene expression patterns. Here, we developed a novel mechanical ligation method for splitting tooth germs to artificially regulate the molecules that contro...

This article reviews general aspects about the epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM). The historical and general morphological features of the ERM are briefly described. The embryological derivation of the ERM is presented as an important consideration in understanding the events associated with their origin and possible functional roles within the periodontal ligament. The ultrastructural de...

Classic embryological studies have documented the inductive role of root dentin on adjacent periodontal ligament differentiation.  The biochemical composition of root dentin includes collagens and cleavage products of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), such as dentin sialoprotein (DSP).  The high abundance of DSP in root dentin prompted us to ask the question whether DSP or peptides derived the...

Periodontal ligament associated protein-1 (PLAP-1), a newly discovered extracellular matrix protein in periodontal ligament (PDL), plays a unique biological role in periodontal ligament mineralization. MicroRNA 21 (miR-21) is one of the endogenous small noncoding RNAs which is involved in osteogenic differentiation of PDLCs by targeting PLAP-1 in vitro. Our study was to investigate the specific...

Biologically active substances are expressed by cells within the periodontium in response to mechanical stimuli from orthodontic appliances. Several possible biomarkers representing biological modifications during specific phenomena as simile-inflammatory process, bone resorption and formation, periodontal ligament changes, and vascular and neural responses are proposed. Citations to potentiall...