Protein gene product 9.5-immunoreactive nerves and cells in human oral mucosa

Abstract

Background Current conflicting information on the innervation of the human oral cavity indicates technical problems such as different detectability of the neural structures according to the various staining methods used and difficulties in reproducibility. The possibility of intraoral regional differences has not been properly considered. Methods Human biopsies of mucosa from different intraoral regions were prepared for immunohistochemistry using protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5; a marker for neuronal structures). Results Nerves were found consistently in all the biopsies. The neural pattern showed clear regional differences. Intraepithelial nerve fibers were found in the gingiva, labia, palate, within certain fungiform papillae, and in some salivary excretory ducts. Organized nerve endings were found in varying frequencies in all but one (sublingual) region, appearing as lamellar (Meissner‐like), coiled or glomerular neural structures. Merkel cell‐neurite complexes were observed in the buccal, gingival, and palatal epithelia. Immunoreactive cells with many similarities to Merkel cells but without a neural connection were also encountered. Conclusions Conflicting results from earlier innervation studies of the oral cavity could be attributed to regional innervation differences. The distribution of the nerves also casts doubt on some of the present theories concerning the function(s) of intraoral nerves, such as the free nerve endings and the Merkel cell‐neurite complexes. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Expression of Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide in Rat Pulp and Periodontal Tissues by Indirect Immunofluorescence Method

“…We also observed clusters of small CGRP-IR cells localized in the base of the epithelial rete pegs in the gingiva, which also agrees with other study findings in cats, (23) humans, (39,40) and ferrets. (41) Because neither axotomy nor sympathectomy had any effect on their distribution or IR staining, these cells are most likely capable of producing CGRP themselves.…”

“…(41) Because neither axotomy nor sympathectomy had any effect on their distribution or IR staining, these cells are most likely capable of producing CGRP themselves. Previous investigations (39,42) have also suggested that the CGRP-IR cells observed in gingiva are Merkel cells, which may be part of a protective inflammatory defense reaction. (43) Furthermore, we found that some CGRP-IR nerve fibers were in close contact with these cells, but how theses fibers interact with the cells remains unknown.…”

Postnatal differentiation of Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa, with special reference to the timing of peripheral nerve development and the potency of cell mitosis

“…As mentioned previously, adult human oral mucosae also contain a number of non-innervated MCs in addition to innervated ones (Ramieri et al 1992;Hillinges et al 1996). Furthermore, normal palatine epithelia of adult humans usually contain desquamative MCs (Tachibana et al 1998).…”

“…Some recent physiological data support this idea (Chan et al 1996;Senok and Baumann 1997;Tazaki and Suzuki 1998). On the other hand, recent immunohistochemical studies have shown that there are non-innervated MCs in the oral mucosae of humans and rodents (Ramieri et al 1992;Hillinges et al 1996;Tachibana et al 1997Tachibana et al , 1998. These non-innervated MCs extend secretory processes towards the basal lamina (Tachibana et al 1997(Tachibana et al , 1998.…”

From psychophysics to the clinic: missteps and advances

“…The relationship between taste and oral somatosensation is mediated by anatomy. Fungiform papillae, the structures on the tongue that house taste buds, are innervated by tactile fibers (Hilliges, Astback, Wang, Arvidson, & Johansson, 1996;Toyoshima, Miyamoto, Itoh, & Shimamura, 1987;Zahm & Munger, 1985), and taste buds are surrounded by pain fibers (Finger, Nelson, Bryant, & Moore, 1994;Nagy, Goedert, Hunt, & Bond, 1982;Silver & Finger, 1991;Whitehead, Beeman, & Kinsella, 1985). Nontasters have fewer fungiform papillae than do supertasters (Miller & Reedy, 1990), so oral pain and touch sensations are the weakest to nontasters and strongest to supertasters.…”