To clarify the role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the development of periapical lesions, we examined the distribution of CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers and macrophages, and the behavior of bone tissues in experimentally induced rat periapical lesions by immunohistochemical and quantitative methods. Although no extensive changes were observed at 7 days after pulp exposure, CGRP-IR nerve fibers increased in number until 28 days with a decrease thereafter. These neural changes were closely correlated with the alteration in number of macrophages except on day 7 when macrophages were significantly increased in number as compared with control rats. Tissue repair began to take place and a decrease in number of osteoclasts was observed when the density of CGRP-IR nerve fibers reached a peak. These results suggested that there might be a close relationship between macrophages and CGRP-IR nerve fibers and that CGRP-IR nerve fibers might participate in tissue repair in experimentally induced rat periapical lesions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.