Biomaterial Database

Receptor characteristics of periodontal mechanosensitive units supplying the cat's lower canine. 1989

A R Loescher, and P P Robinson

Department of Physiology, Birmingham University Medical School, United Kingdom.

1. Forces have been applied to the lower canine teeth of cats, and the range of directions over which single periodontal mechanoreceptors are sensitive (arc of sensitivity) has been determined. We have further studied the response of each unit to forces applied in the direction of maximum sensitivity and investigated whether there is any relationship between the properties of the unit and its location within the periodontal ligament. 2. Recordings were made from 91 single units dissected from the inferior alveolar nerve in six cats. The mean arc of sensitivity to a 0.5 N force applied at right angles to the long axis of the tooth was 312 degrees. The arc of sensitivity was dependent on the force applied and the threshold of the receptor. 3. More units responded maximally to forces applied in a distolingual direction than would have been expected had the responses been evenly distributed around the tooth. Thirty-four of the units were bidirectionally sensitive, 28 became active when the force was removed, and 20 were spontaneously active. 4. The force threshold decreased with increasing rates of force application. 5. The majority of the units (81%) were slowly adapting. The rapidly adapting units had significantly higher force thresholds. 6. Twenty-eight of the receptors could be localized in the periodontal ligament after removing bone overlying the tooth root. There was no apparent relationship between the distance of the receptor from the fulcrum and its arc of sensitivity, threshold, maximum frequency of discharge, or adaptation properties.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008465	Mechanoreceptors	Cells specialized to transduce mechanical stimuli and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Mechanoreceptor cells include the INNER EAR hair cells, which mediate hearing and balance, and the various somatosensory receptors, often with non-neural accessory structures.	Golgi Tendon Organ,Golgi Tendon Organs,Krause's End Bulb,Krause's End Bulbs,Mechanoreceptor,Mechanoreceptor Cell,Meissner's Corpuscle,Neurotendinous Spindle,Neurotendinous Spindles,Receptors, Stretch,Ruffini's Corpuscle,Ruffini's Corpuscles,Stretch Receptor,Stretch Receptors,Mechanoreceptor Cells,Bulb, Krause's End,Bulbs, Krause's End,Cell, Mechanoreceptor,Cells, Mechanoreceptor,Corpuscle, Meissner's,Corpuscle, Ruffini's,Corpuscles, Ruffini's,End Bulb, Krause's,End Bulbs, Krause's,Krause End Bulb,Krause End Bulbs,Krauses End Bulb,Krauses End Bulbs,Meissner Corpuscle,Meissners Corpuscle,Organ, Golgi Tendon,Organs, Golgi Tendon,Receptor, Stretch,Ruffini Corpuscle,Ruffini Corpuscles,Ruffinis Corpuscle,Ruffinis Corpuscles,Spindle, Neurotendinous,Spindles, Neurotendinous,Tendon Organ, Golgi,Tendon Organs, Golgi
D010513	Periodontal Ligament	The fibrous CONNECTIVE TISSUE surrounding the TOOTH ROOT, separating it from and attaching it to the alveolar bone (ALVEOLAR PROCESS).	Alveolodental Ligament,Alveolodental Membrane,Gomphosis,Alveolodental Ligaments,Alveolodental Membranes,Gomphoses,Ligament, Alveolodental,Ligament, Periodontal,Membrane, Alveolodental,Periodontal Ligaments
D010812	Physical Stimulation	Act of eliciting a response from a person or organism through physical contact.	Stimulation, Physical,Physical Stimulations,Stimulations, Physical
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D003481	Cuspid	The third tooth to the left and to the right of the midline of either jaw, situated between the second INCISOR and the premolar teeth (BICUSPID). (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p817)	Canine Tooth,Canine Teeth,Cuspids,Teeth, Canine,Tooth, Canine
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004594	Electrophysiology	The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia