Absence of lymphatic vessels in human dental pulp: a morphological study

作者：Gerli Renato; Secciani Ilaria; Sozio Francesca; Rossi Antonella; Weber Elisabetta; Lorenzini Guido^*

来源：European Journal of Oral Sciences, 2010, 118(2): 110-117.

DOI：10.1111/j.1600-0722.2010.00717.x

• blood vessels
• human dental pulp
• immunohistochemistry
• lymphatic and blood markers
• lymphatic vessels

Few and controversial data are available in the literature regarding the presence of lymphatic vessels in the human dental pulp. The present study was designed to examine morphologically the existence of a lymph drainage system in human dental pulp. Human dental pulp and skin sections were immunohistochemically stained with specific antibodies for lymphatic endothelium (D2-40, LYVE-1, VEGFR-3 [vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3], and Prox-1), with the pan-endothelial markers CD31 and von Willebrand factor (vWF), and with the blood-specific marker CD34. Several blood vessels were identified in human pulps and skin. Lymphatic vessels were found in all human skin samples but in none of the pulps examined. Western blotting performed on human dermis and on pulps treated with collagenase (to remove odontoblasts) confirmed these results. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that vessels which, by light microscopy, appeared to be initial lymphatic vessels had no anchoring filaments or discontinuous basement membrane, both of which are typical ultrastructural characteristics of lymphatic vessels. These results suggest that under normal conditions human dental pulp does not contain true lymphatic vessels. The various theories about dental pulp interstitial fluid circulation should be revised accordingly.

• 出版日期2010-4