Holje L, Hildebrand C, Fried K
Anat Rec. 1986 Mar;214(3):304-11. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092140310.
The anatomy of the teeth and tooth-related nerves in the lower jaw was examined in the cichlid Tilapia mariae. This was done in order to establish a basis for studies on dental neuroplasticity in a polyphyodont vertebrate. The region of interest was explored in specimens fixed by glutaraldehyde perfusion, and by using X-ray photography, maceration, scanning electron microscopy, gross dissection, and light microscopic examination of serial sections. The results show that the lower jaw carries some 60-65 functional teeth. In addition, numerous replacement teeth and tooth germs in various stages of development are located in a cavity in the dentary bone. Numerous nerve bundles are present in immediate relation to the dental follicles of tooth germs. Unerupted teeth do not contain light-microscopically discernible pulpal axons, but the pulps of functional teeth contain myelinated axons. Both perifollicular and pulpal nerve bundles derive from a nerve plexus, which is formed by branches from r. mandibularis trigemini. This nerve is easily accessible to experimental manipulation, where it courses through the adductor mandibulae muscular complex. Thus, the lower jaw of T. mariae seems to represent a suitable system for the study of tooth-nerve interactions in a polyphyodont species.
在丽鱼科鱼类玛利亚罗非鱼中，对下颌的牙齿及与牙齿相关的神经进行了解剖学研究。这样做是为了为多牙列脊椎动物牙齿神经可塑性的研究奠定基础。通过戊二醛灌注固定标本，并运用X射线摄影、浸软法、扫描电子显微镜、大体解剖以及连续切片的光学显微镜检查，对感兴趣的区域进行了探索。结果表明，下颌大约有60 - 65颗功能牙。此外，在齿骨的一个腔内有许多处于不同发育阶段的替换牙和牙胚。在牙胚的牙囊附近有许多神经束。未萌出的牙齿在光学显微镜下看不到牙髓轴突，但功能牙的牙髓含有有髓轴突。滤泡周围神经束和牙髓神经束均源自一个神经丛，该神经丛由三叉神经下颌支的分支形成。这条神经在穿过下颌收肌复合体时易于进行实验操作。因此，玛利亚罗非鱼的下颌似乎是研究多牙列物种牙齿 - 神经相互作用的一个合适系统。
