[Studies on aging enzyme activities of the human dental pulp blood vessels]

Histochemical distribution and age changes of alkaline phosphatase (AKPase E. C. 3. 1. 3. 1) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase E. C. 3. 6. 1. 3) in normal human dental pulp blood were investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. 42 dental pulp samples from patients aged 10 to 70 years old were divided into three groups. Results showed that accompanying aging, activities of AKPase and ATPase of dental pulp blood vessels decreased. AKPase staining quantities for group one (10-30 years), group two (31-50 years) and group three (51-70 years) were 40.62 +/- 13.79, 36.75 +/- 9.78 and 19.20 +/- 5.35 and ATPase staining quantities were 33.00 +/- 10.09, 27.53 +/- 16.60 and 23.27 +/- 5.04 respectively. The endothelial cells of capillaries in dental pulp changed greatly. With aging, metabolic ability of dental pulp decreased gradually. In addition, it was observed that the capillaries in sub-odontoblasts decreased and odontoblast layer became thin with aging. The close association of the capillaries of the pulp to the odontoblasts had been demonstrated.