Transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) plays a crucial role in innocuous cool sensation, acute cold pain and cold-induced hyperalgesia during pathologic conditions. To help understand TRPM8-mediated cold perception in the dental pulp and periodontal tissues, we examined the distribution of TRPM8-immunopositive (+) axons in molar and incisor pulp and periodontal tissues using transgenic mice expressing a genetically encoded axonal tracer in TRPM8+ neurons. In the radicular pulp of the molar teeth, a small number of TRPM8+ axons were observed. TRPM8+ axons branched frequently and extensively in the core of coronal pulp, forming a network in the peripheral pulp. Some TRPM8+ axons ascended between odontoblasts and were observed in the dentinal tubule. TRPM8+ axons were linear-shaped in the radicular pulp, whereas many TRPM8+ axons showed portions shaped like beads connected with thin axonal stands at the peripheral pulp. TRPM8 was densely expressed in the bead portions. In the incisor pulp, TRPM8+ axons were occasionally observed in the core of the coronal pulp and rarely observed at the peripheral pulp. TRPM8+ axons were occasionally observed and showed a linear shape rather than a bead-like appearance in the periodontal ligament and lamina propria of the gingival tissue. These findings, showing differential distribution of TRPM8+ axons between radicular and coronal portions of the molar pulp, between incisor and molar pulp, and between dental pulp and periodontal tissues, may reflect differential cold sensitivity in these regions.

Periodontalligament (PDL) fibroblasts have an ectomesenchymal origin and are known to participate not only in formation of PDL but also in the repair and regeneration of the a이acent alveolar bone and cementum. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism which is related to the development and differentiation of PDL cells. Recendy, we reported the PDLs (a periodontalligament-specific) 22 as a PDL fibroblast-specific mRNA which is not expressed in gingival fibroblasts. In this study, to examine the expression and functional characterization of PDμ22 mRNA and prαein in development and differentiation of periodontal 따sue ， we carried out northem analysis, insitu hybridization, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The expression of PDLs22 mRNA was increased with PDL cell differentiation from the confluent to multilayer stage but decreased slighdy with mineralized nodule formation in vitro. πle PDLs22 protein was localized on the nuclear membrane and expressed throughout the differentiation of PDL fibroblasts in vitro. The PDLs22 mRNA and protein were expressed in the differentiating cementoblasts, PDL fibroblasts and osteoblasts along the r∞t surface and alveolar bone of the developing rat teeth. These results indicate that the PDLs22 plays an irnportant role in the differentiation of cementoblasts and osteoblasts and thus homeostasis of cementum, PDL and alveolar bone.