Immunohistochemical demonstration of the nerves in human dental pulp with antisera against neurofilament protein and glia-specific S-100 protein.

Human dental pulp was investigated by an immunofluorescence method using antisera against neurofilament protein (NFP) and glia-specific S-100 protein. Nerve fibers coursing through the pulp were selectively stained with the anti-NFP serum, and their Schwann sheath with the S-100 antiserum. In addition to a definitive demonstration of the subodontoblastic nerve plexus, we found another hitherto unknown nerve plexus composed of delicate fibers at the base of the odontoblastic layer. This study shows that immunohisto chemical techniques using antisera against nervous system-specific proteins are superior to previous silver impregnation methods, due to their specificity and constancy in reaction.