PMID: 9541266Apr 16, 1998Paper

Innervation of the periodontal ligament in the alligatorid Caiman crocodilius

European Journal of Oral Sciences
Osamu TadokoroY Kozawa

Abstract

The mode of development and structure of crocodilian teeth and periodontium parallels that of mammals, but the teeth are continuously replaced throughout the lifetime of those animals. In this report, the innervation and fibres of the crocodilian periodontal ligament were examined using histology, immunohistochemistry for S-100 protein and transmission electron microscopy. Crocodilian periodontal ligaments had the following characteristics: (1) horizontal fibres, which connect the alveolar bone to the root cementum and (2) longitudinal fibres, which ran parallel to the tooth axis, with nerves and blood vessels in the middle layer of the ligament. The apex of root and tooth germs were both embedded in thick circular fibres. S-100 protein was detected in neural elements including terminal portions which were densely distributed in the periodontal ligament and dental follicle. The S-100 positive neural elements formed a periodontal plexus. We found two types of nerve endings; free endings and simple encapsulated corpuscles as described in mammals. The presence of such nerve endings in caiman suggests that these teeth, in addition to having a biting function, may also act as highly sensitive sensory organs.

Citations

Apr 12, 2000·Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine : an Official Publication of the American Association of Oral Biologists·T MaedaS Wakisaka
Oct 4, 2019·PeerJ·Alida M BailleulMary H Schweitzer
Nov 9, 2012·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Duncan B Leitch, Kenneth C Catania

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