The temporospatial relationship between mouse dental pulp stem cells and tooth innervation

Area of Science:

• Stem cell biology
• Neuroscience
• Developmental biology

Background:

• Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) possess neural differentiation potential.
• This suggests a possible role in tooth neurodevelopment.
• The relationship between DPSCs and tooth innervation remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the spatiotemporal relationship between DPSCs and tooth innervation.
• To examine the distribution of DPSCs, neural stem cells (NSCs), nerve growth cones, and sensory nerves during tooth development.

Main Methods:

• Immunofluorescence staining for CD146, Nestin, and GAP-43.
• AM1-43 fluorescent dye injection to trace nerve entry.
• Analysis of developing mouse tooth germs at different developmental stages.

Main Results:

• DPSCs and NSCs were found in the dental pulp before nerve penetration.
• Nerve growth cones and sensory nerves entered the pulp by 8 days, originating from the dental follicle at 4 days.
• No co-localization was observed between CD146+ DPSCs and nerve growth cones/sensory nerves.

Conclusions:

• DPSCs and NSCs are present in the dental pulp prior to innervation.
• A decrease in NSCs after nerve entry suggests their involvement in neural development.
• DPSCs and NSCs may play a role in attracting neural growth and differentiation within the pulp.