Conversion of neural plate explants to pre-placodal ectoderm-like tissue in vitro.

Neural crest and cranial sensory placodes arise from ectodermal epithelium lying between the neural plate and non-neural ectoderm (neural border). BMP signaling is important for both an induction of the neural border and a subsequent induction of the neural crest within the neural border. In contrast, FGF signaling is important for the neural border induction and the following induction of the pre-placodal ectoderm (PPE), which later gives rise to the cranial sensory placodes.

GaAlAs laser-induced pulp mineralization involves dentin matrix protein 1 and osteopontin expression.

Objectives: GaAlAs lasers induce pulp mineralization by promoting reparative dentinogenesis. This study analyzed the expression of dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) and osteopontin in GaAlAs laser-irradiated rat molars, to examine the hypothesis that these proteins play a role in the laser-induced reparative dentinogenic process.

Materials And Methods: The mesial surfaces of the upper first molars of 8-week-old Wistar rats were irradiated with a pulsed GaAlAs laser.

Initial transient accumulation of M2 macrophage-associated molecule-expressing cells after pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate in rat molars.

Introduction: M2 (alternatively activated) macrophages are known to participate in wound healing and tissue repair. This study aimed to analyze the temporospatial changes in the distribution and density of M2 macrophage-associated molecule-expressing cells after pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in rat molars to ascertain the role played by M2 macrophages in the healing of MTA-capped pulp tissue.

Methods: The maxillary first molars of 8-week-old Wistar rats were pulpotomized and capped with MTA.

Temporospatial localization of dentine matrix protein 1 following direct pulp capping with calcium hydroxide in rat molars.

Aim: To examine the temporospatial expression of dentine matrix protein 1 (DMP1; a noncollagenous protein involved in mineralized tissue formation), osteopontin (another noncollagenous protein detected during reparative dentinogenesis) and nestin (a marker of differentiating/differentiated odontoblasts), following direct pulp capping with calcium hydroxide in rat molars.

Methodology: The maxillary first molars of 8-week-old Wistar rats had their pulps exposed and capped with calcium hydroxide. The pulp-capped teeth were collected from 6 h to 14 days postoperatively and processed for immunohistochemistry for DMP1, osteopontin and nestin.

Prostaglandin transporting protein-mediated prostaglandin E2 transport in lipopolysaccharide-inflamed rat dental pulp.

Introduction: The prostaglandin transporter (Pgt) and multidrug resistance-associated protein (Mrp) 4 are membrane transport proteins that play crucial roles in the transmembrane uptake and/or efflux of prostaglandins (PGs). This study attempted to analyze the protein expression of Pgt and Mrp4 and their involvement in PGE2 efflux transport in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inflamed rat incisor pulp tissue.

Methods: Pulpitis was induced in the upper incisors of Wistar rats by treating them with LPS for 24 hours.