The relation between the response properties and the position of reinnervated periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors in the cat.

Electrophysiological recordings were made from functional single fibres teased from the inferior alveolar nerve 12 weeks after nerve section. The force thresholds, adaptation times and conduction velocities of 10 located periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors in 2 cats were recorded and compared with results for normal located receptors from a previous study using similar techniques. The relation of both threshold and the adaptation rate to the position of the reinnervated receptors was statistically significant and similar to the relation for normal units. These results support the hypothesis that the range of response characteristics of periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors depends on their position relative to the tooth's fulcrum.