Effects of neonatal exposure to anti-nerve growth factor on the number and size distribution of trigeminal neurones projecting to the molar dental pulp in rats

Abstract

The first aim of the present study was to determine whether depletion of endogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) during early postnatal development results in a long-term deficit in the number of trigeminal ganglion cells and axons projecting to the molar pulp. The second aim was to identify selectivity of the effects of NGF deprivation for any specific size group among pulp neurones. Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were given subcutaneous injections of either rabbit anti-mouse-NGF serum or non-immune (control) rabbit serum for a period of 1 month. At age 4 months, Fluoro-gold (FG) was applied to the pulp chamber of the right maxillary first molar. One week later, the animals were perfusion-fixed, and the trigeminal ganglia were removed and serially sectioned with a cryostat. Labelled neurones were seen only in the trigeminal ganglia ipsilateral to the injected teeth. The area of every labelled cell profile was measured, and from these data, estimates of the true number and size distribution of FG-labelled cells were obtained by recursive translation. Ganglia of control animals had a mean of 197 labelled neurones, all in the maxillary division, and most of the somas were of medium or large diameter. NGF-deprived animals had significantly fewer (mean = 145) FG-labelled cells in the trigeminal ganglion ipsilateral to the injected tooth. Neurones with somas of less than 30 μm dia were most strikingly subnormal in anti-NGF treated animals (64% of controls). In accordance with the greater susceptibility of small neurones to anti-NGF exposure, deficits in apical nerve fibres of the mandibular first molar were greater in degree and duration for unmyelinated axons than for myelinated axons. It is concluded that NGF is an important mediator in regulation of postnatal development of the sensory innervation of the dental pulp. The results also indicate that postnatal development of at least one class of larger pulpal afferent neurones is regulated by factors other than NGF.