Investigation of homologous antibodies to an extract of rabbit dental pulp

Cellular immuno-competence of infected root canal contents in pathogenesis of periapical lesions

The soluble fractions of infected root canal contents (IRCC) were collected from about 300 human extracted teeth and examined for the presence of mononuclear cell (MNC) chemotaxis and cellular immunocompetence. IRCC showed remarkable chemotactic activity for polymorphonuclear leukocytes but a weak activity for MNC. However, generation of intrinsic MNC chemotaxis and induction of cellular immunity were confirmed in rats given repeated injections of IRCC.

The role of intracanal medication in root canal treatment

The role of intracanal medication as a root canal dressing is re-examined. In pulpectomy and some root canal treatments, where the root canal contains vital pulp tissue, it is doubtful whether a routine intracanal medicament is needed. In infected root canals, intracanal medication has been advocated for many purposes. An intracanal medicament is used to: (i) eliminate any remaining bacteria after canal instrumentation; (ii) reduce inflammation of periapical tissues and pulp remnants; (iii) render canal contents inert and neutralize tissue debris; (iv) act as a barrier against leakage from the temporary filling; (v) help to dry persistently wet canals. However, most of the indications for intracanal medicaments are questionable. Intracanal medicaments should only be used for root canal disinfection as part of controlled asepsis in infected root canals, and their role is secondary to cleaning and shaping of the root canal. Thorough canal debridement and adequate canal preparation are more pertinent, and their importance is emphasized. Bacteriological sampling may be necessary if a tooth does not respond to treatment, to help in the choice of intracanal medicament.

Antibody formation to dog pulp tissue altered by a paste containing paraformaldehyde

Pulpotomy treatment was performed weekly on the teeth of four dogs for 5 weeks. Antibody formation to pulp tissue altered by paraformaldehyde paste within the pulp cavity was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The results indicated that the reaction between antigen and antibody did occur when pretreatment or post-treatment serum reacted with the antigen of either the pulp tissue incubated with saline or that incubated with paraformaldehyde paste. No evidence was found to prove that antibody formation was related to the pulpotomy treatment with paraformaldehyde paste.

Cell-mediated immune response to dog pulp tissue altered by Proco-Sol via the root canal

Pulp tissue from three experimental dogs was tested for its antigenicity before and after incubation with Proco-Sol sealer (PS). Cell-mediated skin test reactions showed an increased response to pulp that had been incubated in Proco-Sol, washed, and then injected, as compared with pulp or PS alone. In vitro analysis of cell-mediated immune response (lymphocyte proliferation) showed a marked increase when pulp tissue was incubated in PS and washed, as compared to saline-treated pulp. Comparison of the saline-incubated pulp to the PS-altered pulp indicated that the increase in radioactivity was statistically significant at p less than 0.0001. Thus, Proco-Sol sealer altered dog pulp tissue and rendered it antigenically active, and a specific cell-mediated lymphocyte response was produced.

The effect of formocresol and glutaraldehyde on certain enzymes in bovine dental pulp

The effect of a 2-hour formocresol and glutaraldehyde treatment on two enzymes of bovine pulp was measured. Lactic dehydrogenase, a respiratory enzyme, was sharply affected by 0.5 percent and one percent glutaraldehyde and a 1:5 dilution of formocresol, exhibiting 7-, 71-, and 40-fold decreases in activity, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase was much less responsive to these same agents, giving only 4.5-, 17-, and 2.5-fold reductions after treatment, respectively. These findings support histochemical studies which have suggested the sensitivity of respiratory enzymes of the pulp to fixative medicaments.

Antibody formation to dog pulp tissue altered by camphor paramonochlorophenol via the root canal

Pulp tissue from three experimental dogs was tested for its antigenicity before and after incubation with CMCP. Reaction to Arthus skin tests showed an increased response to pulp that had been incubated in CMCP, washed, then injected, as compared with pulp or CMCP alone. Hemagglutinating antibody titers (1:360 to 1:450 dilutions) were obtained from pulp tissue altered by CMCP. Inhibition tests showed the specificity of the antibody to be at a dilution titer of 1:350. Therefore, CMCP altered dog pulp tissue and rendered it antigenically active, and a specific humoral response was produced.

Experimentally induced alterations in periapical tissues of the cat

Ten cats were immunized with subcutaneous injections of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). After it was determined that the experimental animals had developed circulating antibodies to KLH, challenge doses of KLH were administered via the root canal system. The radiographic and histologic findings suggest that antigen-antibody complex reactions can occur in periapical tissues of teeth, and that they can play a role in the pathogenesis of periapical lesions. In contrast, no radiographic and histologic changes were noted in non-immunized cats.

Antibody formation to dog pulp tissue altered by AH-26 sealer via the root canal

Pulp tissue from three experimental dogs was tested for its antigenicity before and after incubation with AH-26 sealer. identical to Reactions to Arthus skin tests showed an increased response to pulp that had been incubated in AH-26, washed, and then injected, as compared with the material alone. Hemagglutinating antibody titers (1/500 to 1/800) were obtained from pulp tissue altered by AH-26. Inhibition tests showed the apecificity of the antibody to be at a dilution titer of 1:400. Therefore, a mixture of AH-26 sealer altered dog pulp tissue and rendered it antigenically active, and a specific humoral response was produced.

Cell-mediated immune response to dog pulp tissue altered by Grossman's formula sealer via the root canal

Pulp tissue from three experimental dogs was tested for its antigenicity before and after incubation with Grossman's formula sealer (GS). Cellmediated skin-test reactions showed an increased response to pulp that had been incubated in Grossman's formula sealer, washed, and then injected as compared with pulp or GS alone. In vitro analysis of cell-mediated immune response (lymphocyte proliferation) showed a marked increase when pulp tissue was incubated in GS and washed as compared to saline-treated pulp. Comparing the saline-incubated pulp to the GS-altered pulp revealed that the increase in radioactivity was statistically significant at p less than 0.0001. Therefore, Grossman's formula sealer altered dog pulp tissue and rendered it antigenically active, and a specific cell-mediated lymphocyte response was produced.

The distribution of [14C] leucine and 85Sr labeled microspheres from rat incisor root canals

The distribution of [14C] leucine and 85Sr labeled tracer microspheres from rat incisor pulp canals was investigated in an effort to establish the potential for passage of substances from within the root canal to the systemic circulation. Following introduction of the tracer materials into the pulp canals, the radioactivity in the lungs, spleen, kidney, liver, heart, blood, skeletal muscle, adrenal glands, salivary glands, and submandibular lymph nodes was determined. At all of the time intervals studied the incorporation of [14C] leucine into the adrenal gland was significantly greater than the [14C] leucine incorporation into the other organs. High levels of 85Sr labeled microspheres were detected in the ipsilateral submandibular glands and submandibular lymph nodes and in the lungs.

Antibody formation to dog pulp tissue altered by Grossman's Formula Sealer via the root canal

Pulp tissue from experimental dogs was tested for its antigenicity before and after incubation with Grossman's Formula Sealer (GS). Reactions to Arthus skin tests showed an increased response to pulp that had been incubated in GS, washed, and then injected, as compared with the material alone. Hemagglutinating antibody titers (1:160 to 1:360) were obtained from pulp tissue altered by GS. Inhibition tests showed the specificity of the antibody to be at a dilution titer of 1:200. Therefore, GS altered dog pulp tissue and rendered it antigenically active, and a specific humoral response was produced.

Short-term tissue reactions to enclosed glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue

Polyethylene tubes closed at both ends and with four perforations in the sidewalls were filled with glutaraldehyde-fixed isologous tissue and implanted subcutaneously in rats. The cell reaction during the first 12 days in the tissues adjacent to the tubes was histologically examined. The reaction was compared to the reaction around tubes implanted empty. The examination showed a severe inflammatory reaction with probably immunologic aspects in the tissues adjacent to the filled tubes. The reaction around the empty tubes was slight and transient.

Antibody formation to dog pulp tissue altered by Kerr (Rickert's) sealer via the root canal

Pulp tissue from three experimental dogs was tested for its antigenicity before and after incubation with Kerr (Rickert's) sealer (KS). Reactions to Arthus skin tests showed an increased response to pulp that had been incubated in KS, washed, and then injected, as compared with the material alone. Hemagglutinating antibody titers (1/360--1/600) were obtained from pulp tissue altered by KS. Inhibition tests showed the specificity of the antibody to be at a dilution of titer of 1:300. Therefore, a mixture of Kerr (Rickert's) sealer altered dog pulp tissue and rendered it antigenically active, and a specific humoral response was produced.

The response of the living organism to dead and fixed dead enclosed homologous tissue

Polyethylene tubes at both ends and with four perforations in the side walls were filled with untreated homologous necrotic muscle tissue or formaldehyde-fixed or glutaraldehyde-fixed homologous necrotic tissue and implanted subcutaneously in rats. The cell reaction in the tissues surrounding the differently filled tubes was examined. It was found that the inflammatory reaction to untreated necrotic homologous tissue was the least severe.

Cell-mediated immune response to dog pulp tissue altered by eugenol within the root canal

After pulpal extirpation of twenty teeth in each of four dogs, these animals were primarily immunized intramuscularly with the dog's own pulp (three dogs) and saline solution with pulp (one dog). A fifth dog was used as a control for skin tests. Secondary immunizations were accomplished via the root canal every 7 days over a 28-day period. Cell-mediated skin-test reactions demonstrated less of a response to the eugenol alone than when the dog's pulp was incubated with this material. In vitro analysis of cell-mediated immune response (lymphocyte proliferation) showed a marked response to the pulp altered by eugenol as compared to the saline-treated pulp (p less than 0.004). Therefore, dog's pulp tissue became antigenically altered by eugenol material, recognized by the host, and a specific cell-mediated lymphocyte proliferation resulted.

Antibody formation to dog pulp tissue altered by formocresol uithin the root canal

After pulpal extirpation of twenty teeth in each of five dogs, these animals were primarily immunized intramuscularly by combining formocresol with the dog's own pulp (three dogs), saline solution with pulp (one dog) and injecting sheep erythrocytes (one dog). A sixth dog was used as a control for the Arthus skin test. Secondary immunizations were accomplished via the root canal every 7 days over a 28-day period. Arthus skin-test reactions demonstrated less of a response to the formocresol alone than when the dogs' pulp was conbined with this material. In vitro analysis of hemagglutinating antibody titer showed a tremendous increase when pulp was incubated with formocresol as compared to the saline-treated pulp. Therefore, dogs' pulp tissue became antigenically altered by the formocresol recognized by the host, and a specific humoral response resulted.

Cell-mediated immune response to dog pulp tissue altered by N2 paste within the root canal

After pulpal extirpation of twenty teeth in each of four dogs, these animals were primarily immunized intramuscularly with the dogs' own pulp (three dogs) altered by N2 paste and saline solution with pulp (one dog). A fifth dog was used as a control for skin tests. Secondary immunizations were accomplished via the root canal every 7 days over a 28-day period. Cell-mediated skin tests reactions demonstrated less of a response to the N2 paste alone than when the dogs' pulp was altered with this material. In vitro analysis of cell-mediated immune response (lymphocyte proliferation) showed a marked response to the pulp altered by N2 paste as compared to the saline-treated pulp (P less than 0.002). Therefore, dogs' pulp tissue became antigenically altered by the N2 material, recognized by the host, and a specific cell-mediated lymphocyte proliferation resulted.

Antibody formation and cell-mediated immunity to dog pulp tissue altered by N2 paste via the root canal

1. N2 paste when incubated with dog pulp tissue renders it antigenically active. 2. Specific systemic circulating antibody to dog pulp tissue altered by N2 paste was obtained. 3. When dog pulp tissue was altered by N2 paste a specific lymphocyte stimulation resulted. 4. The root canal is an effective mode of immunization.

Immunologic aspects of pulpal-periapical diseases. A review

The relationship of immunologic concepts to endodontic diseases is discussed. Immunologic mechanisms are considered, including antigens, haptens, antibodies, and cell-mediated responses. Studies of immunologic manifestations in endodontic diseases are given. These include (1) localization of plasma proteins in inflammed human dental pulp, (2) introduction of microbes into animal root canals, (3) introduction of non-microbial antigens into animal root canals, (4) introduction of root canal antigens into human beings, (5) introduction of root canal antigens into animals, (6) studies of "focal" infection, (7) examination of serum antibodies, (8) examination of periapical lesions, and (9) a cell-mediated study. Next, immunologic concepts related to periapical pathosis are considered. Finally, preventive and treatment concepts are reviewed.