Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 1995 Mar; 71(6): 335-43.

Histological study of the circulatory system of human dental pulp from individuals under local anesthesia and electro-acupuncture.

Ueki S, Iwai-Liao Y, Han KS, Higashi Y.

Department of Orthodontics, Osaka Dental University, Japan.

A transmission electron microscopic (TEM) study was conducted on dental pulp obtained from patients under acupuncture or infiltration local analgesia. It was difficult to differentiate lymphatic circulation in the dental pulp that received infiltration anesthesia, because the vessels were constricted, congested, and showed stasis and thrombosis. On the other hand, the dental pulp that received acupuncture showed normal arterioles, capillaries, and venules, as well as some lymph capillaries and small efferent lymphatic vessels that measured about 8 microns and 100 microns in diameter, respectively. The lymphatic endothelial walls had many intercellular gaps, an imperfect basal lamina, and a few discontinuous pericytes. Between the openings in the lymphatic vessels, there were bundles of junctional filaments extending towards the dental pulp connective tissue. Therefore, the lymphatic system, which contains mainly B-3-alpha capillaries, is a leaky tissue for regulating fluid in the dental pulp.