Abstract
The present study was undertaken to investigate the entire microcirculation of rat molar pulps using Mercox and colloidal carbon injection methods in conjunction with SEM and LM.
In adult rats the casts of arteries often took a tortuous arrangement in all regions of molar pulps. The artery gave off two same-sized branches in the apical third of the radicular pulp, running parallel to each other. At the junction of the radicular and coronal pulp the arteries diverged into a radial-shaped pattern. The arteries entered coronal area where they divided into two groups, branching either towards the pulp horn or towards the coronal area.
Numerous capillaies were located just below the odontoblastic layer. In the pulp horn a rich capillary network was observed, while in the radicular pulp a diffuse network was seen.
Arteriovenous anastomoses occurred in the center of the coronal area where arterial and venous branches ran parallel to one another.
In immature rats the arteries took a nearly straight course in the radicular pulp.
In the present study tortuous arteries and arteriovenous anastomoses were observed in the pulpal vascular architecture. These tortuous arteries seem to be related to a stagnation of, or decrease in the blood supply. It is suggested that these particular vascular patterns regulate the blood flow throughout the pulp. Also the arteriovenous anastomoses may serve as an effective regulatory system of the pulpal blood circulation.
