On nerves and teeth in the lower jaw of the cichlid Tilapia mariae

The anatomy of the teeth and tooth-related nerves in the lower jaw was examined in the cichlid Tilapia mariae. This was done in order to establish a basis for studies on dental neuroplasticity in a polyphyodont vertebrate. The region of interest was explored in specimens fixed by glutaraldehyde perfusion, and by using X-ray photography, maceration, scanning electron microscopy, gross dissection, and light microscopic examination of serial sections. The results show that the lower jaw carries some 60-65 functional teeth. In addition, numerous replacement teeth and tooth germs in various stages of development are located in a cavity in the dentary bone. Numerous nerve bundles are present in immediate relation to the dental follicles of tooth germs. Unerupted teeth do not contain light-microscopically discernible pulpal axons, but the pulps of functional teeth contain myelinated axons. Both perifollicular and pulpal nerve bundles derive from a nerve plexus, which is formed by branches from r. mandibularis trigemini. This nerve is easily accessible to experimental manipulation, where it courses through the adductor mandibulae muscular complex. Thus, the lower jaw of T. mariae seems to represent a suitable system for the study of tooth-nerve interactions in a polyphyodont species.