Resumo

QUEIROZ-JUNIOR, Celso Martins et al. Mast cell in dental pulp: does it have a role. Odontol. Clín.-Cient. (Online) [online]. 2012, vol.11, n.1, pp. 71-74. ISSN 1677-3888.

Mast cells play an important role in a variety of biological processes and actively participate in the inflammatory response. There is a controversy in the literature whether mast cells are present in dental pulp. In this investigation we sought to answer the question concerning the presence of mast cells in human and rat dental pulp tissues, under normal and inflammatory conditions. Human and rat dental pulp under normal and inflammatory conditions were analyzed using toluidine blue histochemistry and immunohistochemistry techniques. Our results showed that inflamed and non-inflamed dental pulps neither from humans nor from rats presented mast cells. The role of mast cells in the inflammatory dental pulp response is not clear. Growth factors and cytokines involved in their migration, development and survival could be absent in this tissue and need further investigations.

Palavras-chave : Dental pulp; Mast Cell; Inflammation; Conective Fissue.