The Effects Of Nerve Growth Factor And Neuropeptides On Growth And Differentiation Of Dental Papilla Mesenchyme Cells And Tooth Germs In Vitro

Tooth development results from a complex set of reciprocal interactions between the oral ectoderm and the ectomesenchyme. As a result of various experimental approaches, regulatory functions have been ascribed to many kinds of molecules, including growth factors and extracellular matrix. All the factors mentioned above then cause the epithelial cells to differentiate into enamel — secreting ameloblasts and the mesenchymal cells to differentiate into dentin — secreting odontoblasts at a specific time during tooth development. Recently, with great advances in molecular biology and gene technology, the molecular mechanisms and gene regulation, which is involved in tooth development, especially in the cascade of odontoblast differentiation, has been mapped by many research groups. Presently, the non — neuronal functions of some neuronal factors have been of great interests of researchers. Study on nerve growth factor has been characterized by three developmental stages: study in peripheral nervous system, in central nervous system and then in non - neuronal tissues. Like other growth factors, NGF has also been indicated to be a multifunctioned growth factor. In addition, NGF and mesenchyme— derived tachykinin were shown to be expressed in tooth germ at different developmental stages, the result implies that they are closely related with growth and differentiation of tooth germ. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of NGF and neuropeptides on growth and differentiation of dental papilla mesenchyme cells and tooth germs at a cellular and molec...