Temporal and spacial expression of perlecan in dental pulp after injury.

PURPOSE: To investigate the temporal and special expressions and functions of perlecan in dental pulp of rats after injury. METHODS: Specimens of one side of maxillary molars of 24 male SD rats were collected 1,3,5,7 days after injury, and the other side were used as controls. The specimens were decalcified and embedded in paraffin, sliced by longitudinal section and stained by immunohistochemistry. The staining of perlecan and 131 integrin were examined, and the average optical density (AOD) was compared. The measurement data were analyzed by ANOVA using SPSS 19.0 software package. RESULTS: The staining intensity of perlecan in dental pulp in the experimental group was significantly higher compared with that of the control group. The immunolocalization of perlecan in dental pulp was gradually progressed as the inflamed tissue was progressing after injury, and its A0D was significantly higher than that of control group (F=11.104, P<0.05), especially in the group of 1 d. The staining of β1 integrin was generally enhanced in the pulp 3 d after injury, and its AOD was significantly higher than that of control group (F=124.18, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Perlecan may play an important role in tissue defense mechanism after injury through regulating angiogenesis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Supported by Science and Technology Research Project of Department of Education of Zhejiang Province (20051196) and Wenzhou City (Y20100015). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]