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Veterinary sciences2022; 9(6); 261; doi: 10.3390/vetsci9060261

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

Abstract: To maintain a healthy and functional status, equine hypsodont teeth have to produce lifelong large amounts of subocclusal dentin to prevent occlusal pulp exposure, which is caused by occlusal wear. To examine the cyto- and histological components that guarantee the lifelong high productivity of equine pulp, a limited number of ten incisors and ten cheek teeth from seven adult horses (aged 5 to 24 years) and five foals were sampled for preliminary histomorphometric and histomorphological evaluations. Independently of age, the equine dental pulp featured constant layers of predentin and odontoblastic cells, as well as soft connective tissue, composed of a cellular fibrous matrix, in which blood vessels and nerve fibers were embedded. As a result of the progressive deposition of newly formed dentin, the layer of dentin became thicker with age, and the size of the pulp chamber decreased. In contrast to the brachydont teeth, the morphological characteristics of the odontoblastic layer and the width of the predentin layer did not change with age. Therefore, it is assumed that the equine pulp tissue retained their juvenile status, which explains its unchanged ability to produce high amounts of subocclusal dentin. These preliminary, but clinically significant, findings are worthy of further investigation in order to identify strategies for equine-specific endodontic therapies.
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Publication Date: 2022-05-30 PubMed ID: 35737313PubMed Central: PMC9227316DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9060261Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research examines the structure of equine teeth, specifically the layers of predentin and odontoblastic cells in the dental pulp, and their ability to constantly produce subocclusal dentin throughout a horse’s life. This continuous growth prevents pulp exposure caused by wear, which maintains the health and function of the teeth.

Method and Sample

  • The researchers sampled incisors and cheek teeth from seven adult horses aged between 5 to 24 years as well as from five foals.
  • This sample size was intended to be indicative but not exhaustive, providing preliminary data for future larger studies.
  • They performed histomorphometric and histomorphological evaluations to analyze the structural components of the equine dental pulp.

Findings

  • Independent of the age of the horse, the dental pulp was found to have constant layers of predentin and odontoblastic cells, along with soft connective tissue. This tissue was made up of a cellular fibrous matrix, with blood vessels and nerve fibers embedded.
  • As a result of the continuous deposition of newly formed dentin, the layer of dentin became thicker as the horse aged and the size of the pulp chamber decreased over time.
  • In contrast to the teeth structure in brachydont (or short-crowned) animals, the morphological characteristics of the odontoblastic layer and the width of the predentin layer in hypsodont (or long-crowned) horses remained constant throughout their lives.

Implications of Research

  • The study indicates that the equine pulp tissue retains its juvenile status, which explains its long-term ability to generate high amounts of subocclusal dentin.
  • This ultimately helps in maintaining the health and functionality of the horse’s teeth by preventing occlusal pulp exposure.
  • The researchers suggest that these findings could be clinically significant in identifying strategies for equine-specific endodontic therapies, meaning that this preliminary data could lead to better dental care for horses in the future.

Cite This Article

APA
Roßgardt J, Heilen LB, Büttner K, Dern-Wieloch J, Vogelsberg J, Staszyk C. (2022). The Equine Dental Pulp: Histomorphometric Analysis of the Equine Dental Pulp in Incisors and Cheek Teeth. Vet Sci, 9(6), 261. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9060261

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 6
PII: 261

Researcher Affiliations

Roßgardt, Jessica
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 98, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Heilen, Laura Beate
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 98, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Büttner, Kathrin
  • Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 95, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Dern-Wieloch, Jutta
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 98, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Vogelsberg, Jörg
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 98, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Staszyk, Carsten
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 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 5 times.
  1. 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.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1116671pubmed: 36968463google scholar: lookup
  2. Roßgardt J, Heilen LB, Büttner K, Dern-Wieloch J, Vogelsberg J, Staszyk C. The Equine Dental Pulp: Analysis of the Stratigraphic Arrangement of the Equine Dental Pulp in Incisors and Cheek Teeth. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 30;9(11).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci9110602pubmed: 36356079google scholar: lookup
  3. Heilen LB, Roßgardt J, Dern-Wieloch J, Vogelsberg J, Staszyk C. Odontoblasts in Equine Hypsodont Teeth-How They Cope with Permanent Occlusal Wear. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 22;16(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16020341pubmed: 41594529google scholar: lookup
  4. Korsós SA, Staszyk C, Boone M, Josipovic I, Vogelsberg J, Vlaminck L. Micro-CT and histological examination of accessory canals in 34 equine cheek teeth. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1396871.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1396871pubmed: 38659446google scholar: lookup
  5. Hertel S, Basche S, Schmidt V, Staszyk C, Hannig C, Sterzenbach T, Hannig M. Erosion behaviour of human, bovine and equine dental hard tissues. Sci Rep 2023 Nov 10;13(1):19617.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-46759-9pubmed: 37949920google scholar: lookup
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