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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Sci / The Equine Dental Pulp: Analysis of the Stratigraphic Arrang...
Veterinary sciences2022; 9(11); 602; doi: 10.3390/vetsci9110602

The Equine Dental Pulp: Analysis of the Stratigraphic Arrangement of the Equine Dental Pulp in Incisors and Cheek Teeth.

Abstract: In the crown pulp of brachydont teeth, a cell-free and a cell-rich zone are established beneath the odontoblastic layer, indicating a mature status. For the equine dental pulp, there are no descriptions which allow for a comparative analysis with regard to functional requirements in terms of lifelong secondary dentin production to compensate for occlusal wear. For histomorphological and immunohistological investigations, ten incisors and ten check teeth were used from seven adult horses and five foals. In the periphery of the equine dental pulp, a constant predentin and odontoblastic cell layer was present, followed by densely packed fibroblastic cells, capillary networks, and a high concentration of nerve fibers, suggesting a subodontoblastic supportive zone. Whilst the size of the equine dental pulp decreased with age, the numbers of blood vessels, nerve fibers, and fibroblastic cells increased with age. Histological analysis of the equine dental pulp did not show a cell-free and cell-rich zone as described in the brachydont crown pulp. The equine dental pulp remained in a juvenile status even in aged horses, with morphological features indicating a high capacity for dentine production.
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Publication Date: 2022-10-30 PubMed ID: 36356079PubMed Central: PMC9695782DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9110602Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research studies the structure and characteristics of dental pulp in equine (horse) incisors and cheek teeth. It finds that, unlike other teeth, equine dental pulp doesn’t have distinct cell-free and cell-rich zones. Instead, the horse’s dental pulp retains juvenile characteristics even into old age, suggesting a high capacity for production of secondary dentin.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers carried out histomorphological and immunohistological investigations. These are scientific methods used to study the microanatomy and distribution of various cellular elements within tissues.
  • They sampled ten incisors and ten cheek teeth from seven adult horses and five foals for these investigations.

Observations from the Study

  • They observed the constant presence of a predentin and odontoblastic cell layer at the periphery of the equine dental pulp. Predentin is the innermost layer of the tooth and comprises of unmineralized dentin, while odontoblasts are cells that produce dentin.
  • Following these layers were densely packed fibroblastic cells (connective tissue cells), capillary networks, and a high concentration of nerve fibers. These suggested a supportive zone beneath the odontoblastic layer.
  • The researchers didn’t find a cell-free and cell-rich zone in the equine dental pulp, as is typical of the crown pulp of brachydont (low-crowned) teeth.

Results and Implications

  • While the size of the equine dental pulp was found to decrease with age, the numbers of blood vessels, nerve fibers, and fibroblastic cells increased with age.
  • The researchers concluded that equine dental pulp retained juvenile characteristics even in aged horses. This is in stark contrast to the dental pulp in brachydont teeth, which matures and forms distinct cell-free and cell-rich zones.
  • The findings have significant implications for understanding horse’s dental health and its requirements. The juvenile nature of the equine dental pulp and the high concentration of nerve fibers and blood vessels suggest a high capacity for production of secondary dentin, which compensates for occlusal wear (wear from biting and chewing).

Cite This Article

APA
Roßgardt J, Heilen LB, Büttner K, Dern-Wieloch J, Vogelsberg J, Staszyk C. (2022). The Equine Dental Pulp: Analysis of the Stratigraphic Arrangement of the Equine Dental Pulp in Incisors and Cheek Teeth. Vet Sci, 9(11), 602. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9110602

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 11
PII: 602

Researcher Affiliations

Roßgardt, Jessica
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 98, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Heilen, Laura Beate
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 98, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Büttner, Kathrin
  • Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 95, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Dern-Wieloch, Jutta
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 98, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Vogelsberg, Jörg
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 98, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Staszyk, Carsten
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 98, 35390 Giessen, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Nedelea RI, Gal AF, Rus V, Marza SM, Tripon S, Deak G, Borzan MM, Chișamera G, Mureșan O, Dumitru RV, Mătură CC, Panaitescu PS, Marcus I. A multimodal investigation of a pink-discoloured canine tooth in a jaguar (Panthera onca): a clinical, computed tomographic, microstructural, ultrastructural, and computer-aided design/ computer-aided manufacturing prosthodontic reconstruction study. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1674207.
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  2. Heilen LB, Roßgardt J, Dern-Wieloch J, Vogelsberg J, Staszyk C. Isolation and cultivation as well as in situ identification of MSCs from equine dental pulp and periodontal ligament. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1116671.
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