The Equine Dental Pulp: Analysis of the Stratigraphic Arrangement of the Equine Dental Pulp in Incisors and Cheek Teeth

Abstract

In the crown pulp of brachydont teeth, a cell-free and a cell-rich zone are established beneath the odontoblastic layer, indicating a mature status. For the equine dental pulp, there are no descriptions which allow for a comparative analysis with regard to functional requirements in terms of lifelong secondary dentin production to compensate for occlusal wear. For histomorphological and immunohistological investigations, ten incisors and ten check teeth were used from seven adult horses and five foals. In the periphery of the equine dental pulp, a constant predentin and odontoblastic cell layer was present, followed by densely packed fibroblastic cells, capillary networks, and a high concentration of nerve fibers, suggesting a subodontoblastic supportive zone. Whilst the size of the equine dental pulp decreased with age, the numbers of blood vessels, nerve fibers, and fibroblastic cells increased with age. Histological analysis of the equine dental pulp did not show a cell-free and cell-rich zone as described in the brachydont crown pulp. The equine dental pulp remained in a juvenile status even in aged horses, with morphological features indicating a high capacity for dentine production.

Isolation and cultivation as well as in situ identification of MSCs from equine dental pulp and periodontal ligament

“…This assumes a permanent high productivity of odontoblasts. Histomorphometrical analyses, especially in the subodontoblastic layer, indicate that the equine dental pulp, unlike the brachydont dental pulp, remains lifelong in an immature, highly productive status (4). Although odontoblasts are regarded as postmitotic cells which survive lifelong, new odontoblasts, specifically after injury of dentin or odontoblasts, are regenerated from the subodontoblastic layer (5,6).…”