Abstract
In this study we determined the effect of cholinoceptor agonist pilocarpine on the stimulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and on prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2) generation upon rat dental pulp. By reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) we identified several products corresponding to m 1, m 2, m 3, and m 4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). The stimulation of M 1, M 2, M 3, and M 4 mAChRs by pilocarpine increases NOS activity and PGE 2 generation. There is a correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.05) between NOS activity and PGE 2 generation through the activation of phosphoinositide by phospholipase C (PLC), phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2), and cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1). Exogenous PGE 2 restored NOS activity inhibited by indomenthacin (INDO), whereas nitric oxide (NO) donor restored PGE 2 generation inhibited by N G-methyl-L-arginine acetate salt (L-NMMA). These data indicate that both NO and PGE 2 interact with their own respective biosynthetic pathways modulating NOS and COX activities. Results could contribute to understanding the involvement of NO and PGE 2 in healthy dental pulp given that cellular signals through the parasympathetic system modulate the function of the dentin–pulp complex.
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