A light and electron microscopic study on pulpal nerve fibers in the lower incisor of the mouse.

Light and electron microscopic studies were made on pulpal nerve fibers in mouse lower incisors, typical continuously growing teeth. Serial sections, from the apex of the odontogenic sheath to the incisal edge of the apical foramen, were examined by light microscopy to identify myelinated fibers passing through the apical foramen. The fine structure of the pulpal nerves was examined by electron microscopy at three sites: 1) the level at the incisal edge of the apical foramen; 2) a level 5 mm incisal from the apex of the odontogenic sheath; and 3) the level where the incisor comes out of the alveolar bone. No myelinated fibers were found passing through the apical foramen; they were also lacking at the three levels of the pulp. At level 2, unmyelinated axons were seen in close contact with smooth muscle fibers of arterioles. At level 3, nerve fibers were difficult to distinguish from processes of fibroblasts and odontoblasts. Degenerating axons were present in Schwann cells, and fine unmyelinated axons running through the odontoblast cell layer were seen. Various types of unmyelinated axons were observed in the apical region (level 1). These axons were classified into 6 types on the basis of their fine structures: Type I, bundles of unmyelinated axons completely or partly ensheathed by Schwann cell cytoplasm (mature type); Type II, bundles of unmyelinated axons in a space formed by a Schwann cell membrane (regenerating type); Type III, bundles of unmyelinated axons ensheathed not by a Schwann cell, but merely by a basal lamina (regenerating type); Type IV, single axons in direct contact with the basal lamina (regenerating or terminal type); Type V, naked, electron-dense axons with many vesicles and mitochondria (growth cone-like type); and Type VI, electron opaque axons, due to loss of axonal organellae (degenerating type). The significance of these structures is discussed in relation to the continuous growth of the rodent incisor.