Catecholamines in Healthy and Inflamed Pulp of Primary Teeth - A Comparative Study

An intricate relationship exists between neurotransmitters and catecholamines, particularly dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline, within human tooth pulp. This study aimed to explain the role of catecholamines in primary teeth with inflamed and non-inflamed pulp.

A rigorous selection process was employed, with 20 children aged 6 to 8 carefully categorised into healthy and inflamed pulp groups following ethical clearance and parental consent. Teeth were extracted within 5 minutes, and pulp tissue was obtained. A systematic clinical examination and radiographic evaluation were conducted to identify teeth with profound carious lesions indicative of irreversible pulp changes. Teeth that positively responded to cold and heat tests were included in the study. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) uses an ultraviolet detector for chromatographic separation and catecholamine detection at 280 nm. Norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine concentrations were calculated based on peak areas from HPLC graphs and compared with established standard curves. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 17.0, applying independent t -tests and Mann-Whitney U tests for inter-group comparisons.

Norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine concentrations in inflamed pulp were significantly higher than in healthy pulp. No statistically significant differences in catecholamine concentrations were observed between boys and girls.

The significantly elevated levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine in inflamed pulp compared to healthy pulp suggest a potential role of these catecholamines in the inflammatory process of dental pulp. This study not only contributes to understanding the biochemical changes in dental pulp under inflammatory conditions but also underscores the need for further research to fully comprehend the implications of these findings.