SECRETONEURIN, A NOVEL NEUROPEPTIDE, IN THE HUMAN DENTAL-PULP

Secretoneurin is a neuropeptide that is stored in and released from pr imary afferent neurones. By radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry, secretoneurin was here demonstrated in the human dental pulp and loca lized in varicose nerve fibres that were frequently associated with bl ood! vessels. No significant correlation was found between the levels of immunoreactive secretoneurin and immunoreactive calcitonin-gene rel ated peptide. The results suggest that primary afferent neurones of th e human dental pulp contain secretoneurin, which may influence local i nflammatory responses if it is released together with other neuropepti des. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.