Evidence of intraepithelial CGRP immunoreactive nerve fibers during reepithelialization of extraction wound of rat

Byeon, Ki Jeong; Kim, Chin Soo

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution pattern of CGRP immunoreactive nerve fibers in the healing mucosa of extracion wound. Maxillary 1st molars of rats were extracted. All extraction sites and adjacent tissues of 3 groups of rats(1-week, 2-week and 4-week groups) were removed en bloc and processed for immunostaining and were subjected to light microscopic examination. The results obtained were as follows; In 1-week group, there was no difference in the distribution pattern of CGRP immunoreactive nerve fiber between epithelial margin adjacent to extraction socket and normal gingival epithelium. In 2-week group, some CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were seen in epithelial layer. In 4-week group, many intercellular CGRP immunoreactive nerve fibers were abundant in all layers of immature epithelium characterized by scab on the mucosa and thick keratinized cell layer with irregular surface. Intraepithelial CGRP immunoreactive nerve fibers were reduced to normal level in adjacent mature epithelium. These results suggest that density of CGRP immunoreactive nerve fibers are increased transiently in epithelium during reepithelialization process and CGRP released from these nerve fibers may play an important role in the reepithelialization in the wound healing.