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The response of periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors to mechanical stimuli was studied at different temperatures in anaesthetized cats. Recordings were made from functionally single fibres in the inferior alveolar nerve from mechanoreceptors which were located in the ligament by dissection and punctate stimulation and electrical stimulation. A thermode was used to alter and maintain small areas of periodontal ligament at temperatures ranging from thermode tip temperatures of 3 degrees C to 57 degrees C. The response to ramp-plateau mechanical stimuli applied to the tip of the crown of the canine tooth was greatest when the thermode temperature was 37.5 degrees C +/- 6.5 degrees C. The effect was similar for all receptors studied.

A study is reported in which commercial dental materials (glass-ionomers, resin-modified glass-ionomer and polyacid-modified composite resins) in the form of discs of dimensions 6 mm diameter x 1 mm thickness were prepared and exposed to natural salivas (parotid and unstimulated whole), artificial saliva and water for up to 1 year. Surface hardness was measured at various time intervals, and water sorption characteristics were determined. For all types of material, storage in artificial saliva gave specimens of lowest surface hardness by amounts that were generally significant to p0.05, whereas no differences were found between specimens stored in water or either of the natural salivas. Water sorption characteristics were found to be unaffected by the nature of the storage medium. These results contrast with some previous findings and were not expected, given the known surface reactions between salivas and glass-ionomers, or the known enzymic degradation of composite resins. They demonstrate, however, that the current widespread practise of employing pure water for storage of specimens in laboratory studies is acceptable.

During the course of a study on the morphology of periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors it was observed that a direct relation, without intervening bone, existed between the mandibular canine and first premolar tooth roots in the cat. An area, representing a window in the alveolar septal bone, extended 2–3 mm from the apex towards the tooth crown. Ruffini nerve terminals were observed amongst the collagen bundles in the ligament between the roots of the two teeth. Light and electron microscopy were used to identify the receptors. It is proposed that a periodontal ligament mechanoreceptor can respond to forces applied to adjacent teeth; movement of both teeth need not occur. This may explain the observation made in the past that single periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors respond to forces applied to more than one tooth.

A correlative morphological study was carried out on two electrophysiologically identified and located periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors in anaesthetised cats. One mechanoreceptor had its cell body in the mesencephalic nucleus and the other had its cell body in the trigeminal ganglion. Physiological recordings were made from each of their cell bodies. The two receptors were located by punctate and electrical stimuli in the labial aspect of the periodontal ligament of the left mandibular canine tooth. Both receptors had similar positions relative to the tooth apex and fulcrum and were situated in the labial part of the ligament in each tooth. The receptor loci were marked, and these regions were studied in a series of semi-thin and ultra-thin sections. Only Ruffini nerve endings were observed under each ink mark. Both Ruffini nerve endings branched, were unencapsulated and were incompletely surrounded by terminal Schwann cells with extensions projecting towards collagen bundles. The results indicate that periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors with cell bodies in the mesencephalic nucleus and those with their cell bodies in the trigeminal ganglion can both be Ruffini nerve endings. Furthermore, there was no apparent morphological difference between the two periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors.

1. In anaesthetized cats the left maxillary and mandibular canine and incisor teeth were extracted. Nine weeks later the animals were anaesthetized again and titanium implants were placed into the edentulous ridge of the maxilla and mandible. 2. Terminal experiments were performed between 9 weeks and 10 months after inserting the implants. Recordings were made from the trigeminal ganglia and peripheral nerves of anaesthetized cats. Neurones were identified which responded to forces applied to the maxillary teeth but none was found which responded to forces applied to the implant. 3. The responses of motor units in the temporalis muscle were studied in response to ramp-plateau forces applied to the maxillary canine tooth and maxillary implant using peristimulus time histograms and cumulative sum (cusum) analysis. A small amount of inhibition of the motor units was observed in response to the applied forces to the implant. However, the inhibition was much more profound when similar forces were applied to the tooth. 4. The results confirm that when forces are applied to a tooth, periodontal mechanoreceptors are stimulated which evoke reflex inhibitions to motor units in the jaw-closing muscles. However, there is evidence that mechanoreceptors situated distant to the periodontium can also evoke such reflexes. 5. The results are discussed in relation to the overall functional role of periodontal mechanoreceptors in the reflexes of mastication.

1. Micro-electrode recordings were made from intra-oral mechanoreceptor neurones in the trigeminal ganglion and mesencephalic nucleus of the fifth nerve in the cat. 2. The effect of cervical sympathetic trunk stimulation on the discharge of the mechanoreceptors to a controlled force was observed. 3. Almost half of the mechanoreceptor neurones studied were modulated by sympathetic stimulation. Sympathetic stimulation both decreased the impulse frequency to a controlled force application and raised the threshold in these receptors. The remainder were unaffected by sympathetic stimulation. 4. In previous studies involving recordings from either the trigeminal ganglion or mesencephalic nucleus no spontaneously active slowly adapting intra-oral mechanoreceptors have been observed, yet in peripheral alveolar nerve studies many workers have reported spontaneously discharging neurones. In the present study spontaneous activity has been recorded from intra-oral mechanoreceptors both in the trigeminal ganglion and in the mesencephalic nucleus after cutting the cervical sympathetic trunk. The spontaneous activity could be abolished in all cases but one, by sympathetic stimulation. It is suggested that reported spontaneous activity from intra-oral mechanoreceptors could be due to cutting the peripheral nerve and therefore the sympathetic supply, thus removing an inhibitory influence from the sensory unit. The means by which the sympathetic supply inhibits the sensory unit has not been resolved.

1. In anaesthetized cats recordings have been made in the mesencephalic nucleus of the fifth cranial nerve and the trigeminal ganglion from neurones that respond when forces are applied to the mandibular canine tooth. The site of the mechanoreceptors in the periodontal ligament and their distribution around the tooth root have been determined. 2. Receptors with their cell bodies in the mesencephalic nucleus were found to be situated in the periodontal ligament in a discrete area intermediate between the fulcrum and apex of the tooth, while those in the trigeminal ganglion were situated in the whole area of the periodontal ligament between the fulcrum and apex of the tooth. 3. All of the located mechanoreceptors responded maximally when that part of the ligament in which they lay was put under tension. 4. The directional sensitivities of the mechanoreceptors suggested that there was an uneven distribution around the tooth root of receptors with cell bodies in the mesencephalic nucleus. In contrast mechanoreceptors with cell bodies in the trigeminal ganglion were distributed more equally around the tooth root. The rationale for the differences requires further investigation.