Experimental Tooth Transplantation in the Rhesus Monkey

Abstract

These experiments were based on human clinical autologous transplantation of the lower third molar into the space of an extracted first molar and homologous transplantation of human teeth. These operations have been repeated by many clinicians 1-5 and radiographic and clinical evidence have been submitted as criteria for success. This type of clinical research left many questions unanswered. Further work was started, 6-8 using the rhesus monkey as the experimental animal.The rhesus monkey was selected because its physiology and anatomy are similar to those of the human being and because it is not a laboratory inbred strain. The clinical procedure was duplicated in every respect, except that the rhesus monkey was substituted for the human subject.Because of the anatomical characteristics of the rhesus monkey, the lower third molar has not proved to be a good tooth for transplanting. It is too large to readily fit into the region of the jaw to which it would be transferred. Reports on this work are inconclusive because of the variable factors encountered.9 The experiment was repeated, except that transfers between right and left mandibular incisors were made, other conditions being the same. Materials and MethodsForty autologous operations were performed, involving lower permanent central incisors. The right incisor was removed and the socket was prepared for the left lower incisor. The left lower incisor was then removed and its socket prepared for the lower right incisor. After the immediate transfer of the teeth was made, the gingival tissues were sutured from labial to lingual aspects across the contacts. No other method was used to stabilize the transplants.Twenty monkeys of either sex were used, the development of the teeth to be transplanted being the guiding factor for the selection of the monkeys. Radiographs were used to determine root growth. In previous autologous operations, general experience has indicated that the stage of development of the donor tooth should include approximately a third of the root formation. Consequently, the donor tooth is not a tooth germ and is not a tooth bud; rather, it is a fully developed and calcified crown with a partially developed root.During the operation, a tooth was extracted from its own socket and, for the short time it took to prepare the recipient socket, it was kept in a gauze sponge moistened with physiologic saline solution. Antibiotics were not used after the operation. Periodic radiographs were made for longterm studies and, in most instances, were made 6 months after transplantations.At postoperative intervals of 4, 8, 21, and 31 days and 3, 7, 9, and 11 months, the monkeys were sacrificed and tissue preparations were made for observation. Monkeys were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium* injected into the saphenous vein and sacrificed by perfusion, under positive pressure in the ascending aorta, with an isotonic saline solution until clear fluid was observed flowing from an outlet opening that was made into the heart and then with a 10 percent neutral ...

Allo‐ and autotransplantation of mature teeth in monkeys: a sequential time‐related histoquantitative study of periodontal and pulpal healing

“…In previous studies on orthotopic allotransplantation of teeth in monkeys, root resorption has been described as a consistent finding at different observation periods after transplantation (10–12). However, no previous attempts have been made to classify or quantify these periodontal healing reactions.…”

Histopathological and immunological aspects of tooth transplantation

“…These variables make absolute comparisons difficult but nevertheless a generalized account can be synthesized from the many different studies. Tooth autografts and isografts usually undergo degeneration shortly after grafting (Agnew & Fong 1956, Nordenram 1963, Fong et al 1967, Weinreb et al 1967. Degeneration is usually accompanied by a polymorphonuclear leukocytic invasion of the soft tissues of the tooth (Ivanyi & Vacek 1964a, Irving & Bond 1968, Johansen 1970, Lemoine et al 1970, Shulman & Kalis 1970.…”

“…Although a variety of names have been given to this material, cellular dentin is probably the best descriptive term (Blackwood 1957(Blackwood , 1959. Cellular dentin usually appears first at the cervix or apex (Fong et al 1967, Riviere et al 1971, Atkinson 1972. Cellular dentin deposition may then spread throughout the pulp (Nordenram 1963, Williamson 1964, Fong et al 1967, Irving & Bond 1968) and may be superseded by regular or irregular secondary dentin (Weinreb et al 1967, Fitzgerald 1969, Atkinson 1972.…”

Tooth survival and periodontal tissues healing of allogenic‐transplanted teeth in the mice

“…In previous studies on allografts of monkey teeth, only small areas of normal PDL healing have been described (Fong et al , 1968; Shulman and Kalis, 1970), even in close MHC‐class I and class II‐matched rhesus monkeys (Riviere, 1981). This seems to be in accordance with allograft studies in inbred rodent strains, where only the closest MHC and non‐MHC matches seem to heal equally with isografts and autografts (Atkinson, 1978).…”

“…This root resorption is the main cause of failure in the allogenic tooth (Nordenram, 1982; Schwartz et al , 1985, 1987). Root resorption in allografts is caused by the immunological rejection and the inflammation by the host against the donor tissue (Fong et al , 1968; Schwartz and Andreasen, 2002). Among the tissues of the donor tooth, the PDL is considered to be the primary factor, which elicits inflammation and subsequent root resorption.…”