Biomedical subjects

F Tuisku

Publications and source records attributed to F Tuisku.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Combined retrograde tracing and immunohistochemistry of trigeminal ganglion neurons projecting to gingiva or tooth pulps in the lower jaw of the cichlid Tilapia mariae.

Rat trigeminal ganglion neurons projecting to the oral mucosa or to tooth pulps have different cell diameters and contain different chemical markers. In the present paper we examine whether trigeminal ganglion neurons sending axons to gingiva or tooth pulps in the lower jaw of the cichlid Tilapia mariae differ in a similar way. Retrograde tracing with fluorescent latex microspheres revealed labelled gingival and pulpal neurons in the caudal part of the trigeminal ganglion. The gingival neurons had a unimodal size distribution (peak 11 microns; range 8-14 microns) and the pulpal neurons exhibited a bimodal size distribution (peaks 12 and 25 microns; range 10-40 microns). Immunohistochemistry revealed a calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity in some 40% of the gingival neurons and a substance P-like immunoreactivity in 30%. Of the small pulpal neurons about 60% exhibited a calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity and 15% showed a substance P-like immunoreactivity. Of the large pulpal neurons some 70% exhibited a calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity. These neurons did not show a substance P-like immunoreactivity. In some animals a few trigeminal ganglion neurons showed a neuropeptide Y- or a vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactivity. Perikarya with a tyrosine hydroxylase- or a choline acetyl transferase-like immunoreactivity were not observed. We conclude that gingiva and tooth pulps in the lower jaw of T. mariae are innervated by trigeminal ganglion neurons, the cell diameters and neuropeptide contents of which differ in a pattern similar to that in the rat. Hence, this seems to represent a conserved evolutionary pattern.

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PubMed1996

Occurrence of axons with certain immunohistochemical markers in teleost gingiva and teeth.

The occurrence of axons with certain neurochemical markers in gingiva and teeth in the lower jaw of the cichlid Tilapia mariae was examined by immunohistochemistry. It was found that gingival and pulpal axons can be labelled with antibodies against calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P, tyrosine hydoxylase, neuropeptide Y, choline acetyl transferase and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. It is concluded that both gingival and dental domains in T. mariae contain axons with sensory and autonomic chemical phenotypes, the occurrence and distribution of which are generally similar to the mammalian counterpart.

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PubMed1995

Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic demonstration of nerve fibres in relation to gingiva, tooth germs and functional teeth in the lower jaw of the cichlid Tilapia mariae.

Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of numerous neurofilament (NF)-like immunoreactive axons in relation to gingiva and dental follicles surrounding mineralizing tooth germs. The gingival nerve fibres frequently approached the prospective papilla of early tooth primordia. Electron microscopic (EM) analysis revealed the presence of bundles of unmyelinated axons immediately below the epithelial-proprial junction of the gingiva. Bundles of nerve fibres were also present in the border zone between the prospective papilla of bud-stage tooth germs and surrounding mesenchyme and in close proximity to blood vessels of the follicles surrounding older tooth germs, but no axons were observed within the emerging dental papilla. In the individual functional tooth, a bundle of NF-like immunoreactive nerve fibres entered the apical part of the pulp forming a subodontoblastic plexus at mid-pulpal levels. EM analysis showed that the apical bundle consisted of many unmyelinated and a few myelinated axons invested by Schwann cell processes. The subodontoblastic plexus contained unmyelinated axons only. Thin, axon-like profiles were also seen in predentinal tubules. Nerve fibres were not observed at pulpal horn levels and in the ligamentous attachment. It is concluded that both immature and mature parts of the lower-jaw dentition of the cichlid T. mariae are innervated and that the microscopic anatomy of this innervation is partly similar to the pattern seen in developing and adult mammals.

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PubMed1995

Teeth and tooth nerves.

(1) Although our knowledge on teeth and tooth nerves has increased substantially during the past 25 years, several important issues remain to be fully elucidated. As a result of the work now going on at many laboratories over the world, we can expect exciting new findings and major break-throughs in these and other areas in a near future. (2) Dentin-like and enamel-like hard tissues evolved as components of the exoskeletal bony armor of early vertebrates, 500 million years ago, long before the first appearance of teeth. It is possible that teeth developed from tubercles (odontodes) in the bony armor. The presence of a canal system in the bony plates, of tubular dentin, of external pores in the enamel layer and of a link to the lateral line system promoted hypotheses that the bony plates and tooth precursors may have had a sensory function. The evolution of an efficient brain, of a head with paired sense organs and of toothed jaws concurred with a shift from a sessile filter-feeding life to active prey hunting. (3) The wide spectrum of feeding behaviors exhibited by modern vertebrates is reflected by a variety of dentition types. While the teeth are continuously renewed in toothed non-mammalian vertebrates, tooth turnover is highly restricted in mammals. As a rule, one set of primary teeth is replaced by one set of permanent teeth. Since teeth are richly innervated, the turnover necessitates a local neural plasticity. Another factor calling for a local plasticity is the relatively frequent occurrence of age-related and pathological dental changes. (4) Tooth development is initiated through interactions between the oral epithelium and underlying neural crest-derived mesenchymal cells. The interactions are mediated by cell surface molecules, extracellular matrix molecules and soluble molecules. The possibility that the initiating events might involve a neural component has been much discussed. With respect to mammals, the experimental evidence available does not support this hypothesis. In the teleost Tilapia mariae, on the other hand, tooth germ formation is interrupted, and tooth turnover ceases after local denervation. (5) Prospective dental nerves enter the jaws well before onset of tooth development. When a dental lamina has formed, a plexus of nerve branches is seen in the subepithelial mesenchyme. Shortly thereafter, specific branches to individual tooth primordia can be distinguished. In bud stage tooth germs, axon terminals surround the condensed mesenchyme and in cap stage primordia axons grow into the dental follicle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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PubMed1994

Evidence for a neural influence on tooth germ generation in a polyphyodont species.

It has been suggested that nerve endings emanating from the dental nerve plexus of the jaw might be involved in the formation of tooth germs. In the present study we examine the effect of unilateral denervation on the formation of tooth germs in the lower jaw of a polyphyodont teleost--the cichild Tilapia mariae. Repeated inspection of the lower jaw dentition in normal animals over a period of about 300 days showed that the functional time of an average individual tooth is 101 days. In operated animals, the functional time was normal on the unoperated side, but on the denervated side tooth turnover ceased about 100 days after surgery. Radiographic plates from lower jaw specimens revealed that mineralized replacement teeth were present on the unoperated side, but not on the denervated side, 300 days after denervation. Light microscopic examination of semi-thin transverse sections from decalcified plastic-embedded lower jaws showed that soft-tissue tooth primordia and nerves were lacking on the denervated side, while present within the undisturbed half-jaw. It is concluded that the local presence of mandibular nerve branches is necessary for the formation of tooth germs in the lower jaw of the cichlid T. mariae.

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PubMed1992

Nodes of Ranvier and myelin sheath dimensions along exceptionally thin myelinated vertebrate PNS axons.

The trigeminal alveolar branch in the lower jaw of the cichlid Tilapia mariae was examined by light and electron microscopy on single and serial sections, and by light microscopy on teased fibre preparations. The principal purpose was to find out if the exceptionally thin myelinated axons (d < 1 micron) present in this nerve possess true nodes of Ranvier, and to determine the dimensions of their myelin sheaths. This necessitated analysis of the whole size range of myelinated fibres, with respect to nodal and internodal morphology. The results show that the exceptionally thin myelinated fibres exhibit primitive nodal regions, with patches of axolemmal undercoating, and few Schwann cell processes in the node gap. This contrasts with the more complex nodal organization seen in larger trigeminal alveolar branch fibres. For the whole population of myelinated fibres the number of myelin lamellae increases rectilinearly with axon diameter, and sheath length increases with fibre diameter according to a logarithmic expression. The myelin sheaths of the exceptionally thin trigeminal alveolar branch fibres are composed of 10-20 lamellae, and extend 35-50 microns along the axon. These results show that the structural complexity of nodal regions in the trigeminal alveolar branch decreases with decreasing fibre size, that the exceptionally thin myelinated trigeminal alveolar branch fibres possess primitive nodes and that they have very short myelin sheaths. Our crude theoretical calculations suggest that these fibres might be capable of saltatory conduction.

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PubMed1991

Anatomy of the rat knee joint and fibre composition of a major articular nerve.

Several recent reports discuss the role of joint nerves in arthritis. Many of these are based on studies in the rat. The aim of this study is to examine the anatomy of the rat knee joint, in search for a primary articular nerve, and to analyze the fibre composition of that nerve. The results show that the structure of the joint differs in some respects from the human knee. At the upper end of the bony patella a cartilaginous patella extends proximally, forming the anterior wall of the suprapatellar bursa. Distinct collateral ligaments are integrated in the joint capsule. The extensor digitorum longus muscle bridges the knee joint, originating from the lateral femoral epicondyle. The well-developed menisci contain pyramid-shaped ossicles. The cruciate ligaments are arranged like in the human knee. A large posterior (PAN) and a small medial (MAN) articular nerve can be identified. The PAN is composed of some 400 axons, about 80% of which are unmyelinated. All myelinated fibres are sensory. They present a unimodal size spectrum with a size range of 1-8 microns, and a predominance of small fibres. Specific denervations indicate that about 1/3 of the unmyelinated axons represent afferents, and some 2/3 are sympathetic efferents. Interestingly, neonatal capsaicin treatment did not influence the number of unmyelinated PAN axons. The functional significance of the numerous unmyelinated sympathetic and sensory PAN axons in the normal knee joint remains to be elucidated.

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