Cell-surface protein antigens of Streptococcus mutans were first identified in culture supernatants and subsequently purified from both culture fluids and cells. Two research groups have isolated protein antigens of serotype c S. mutans, which are designated antigens I / II, I, II and III, or antigens A, B, C and D. Among these, antigen I / 11 and antigen B have been demonstrated to be identical with antigen P 1, a 185, 000-molecular-weight protein, by the third reseach group. Antigen I /II has two sets of antgenic determinants on the protein molecule. Antigens A, C and D have a molecular weight of 29, 000, 70, 000 and 13, 000, respectively. The serotype distribution of these antigens was also examined ; strains of serotypes e and f were found to have antigens identical with those from serotype c. Antigen I / II -like protein has been detected in serotypes a, d and g, however, the immunological specificity is clearly different from that of serotype c/e/f Although these protein antigens appear to be a part of the fimbriae (fuzzy coat) of S. mutans, their biological role remains to be elucidated. Antigens I /II, I, II, A and B have been shown to be effective vaccines in the prevention of experimental dental caries in monkeys.

View full abstract

Salivary epithelial cells were isolated by collagenase digestion of male mouse (C57BL/6N) submandibular gland. Isolated cells (MSG cells) were embedded in the collagen (Type I) gel matrix. MSG cells demonstrated three-dimensional outgrowth with duct-like structures extending into the matrix. Growth of the cells reached 30-fold of that at plating after 3 weeks in culture, whereas fibroblasts did not grow in the matrix. In addition, MSG cells showed significant activity of amylase secretion into the culture medium even after 3 weeks in culture. Thus, MSG cells retained not only growth but differentiation when cultured in the collagen gel matrix. It is suggested that culture of MSG cells in the collagen gel matrix is a useful technique to study the effects of a variety of hormones and growth factors on the growth and differentiation of MSG cells.

View full abstract

The location of the origin of motoneurons of the rabbit bulbar accessory nerve was studied by injection of HRP and nuclear yellow into the inferior laryngeal nerve (ILN) or the laryngeal muscles, in combination with the intracranial severing of either the rootl ets of the vagal nerve (Xr) or those of the bulbar accessory nerve (XIr). The motoneurons of XIr-fibers were located in the caudal three-fourths of the nucleus ambiguus corresponding to the ILN region. They occupied its major portion in the caudal fourth of the nucleus supplying the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle, whereas, in th e middle two-fourths, they are intermingled with the motoneurons of Xr-fibers. The rostral fourth of the nucleus, the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) region, was occupied by the Xr-motoneurons supplying the cricothyroid muscle. The thyroarytenoid motoneurons and those of the posterior cricoary-tenoid muscle were situated in the middle two-fourths of the nucleus ambiguus, the former of which have axons passing through XIr and the latter have axons those passing through Xr. From the above results it is clear that the XIr-fibers innervate the adductor muscle for the vocal cord by way of ILN, their nucleus of origin being located in the caudal portion of the nucleus ambiguus and partially overlaps th e zone of Xr-motoneurons. The origin of the neurons of the Xr-fibers are located in a more rostral portion, and they innervate the tensor and abductor muscles by way of SLN and ILN, respectively.

View full abstract

In this paper, regulation of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase in salivary tissue by mineralocorticoid and Na ions was investigated physiologically, biochemically and histochemically in relation to the secretion of electrolytes and water from the gland. SD male rats were divided into 2 groups, one fed with a normal diet and the other with a Na^-deficient diet. Both groups of animals were subdivided into 4 groups of 5 each, non-treated, adrenalectomized, DOCA-injected adrenalectomized and Na^-loaded adrenalectomized rats. Electrolyte concentrations in saliva and Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity in the gland were measured, and the histochemical localization of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase (p-NPP ase) was also demonstrated. The results obtained were as follows:
1. Concentrations of Na⁺ in the saliva were significantly increased and K⁺ decreased respec-tively by adrenalectomy. These electrolyte concentrations were restored to the control values by the administration of DOCA.
Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity in salivary gland was decreased by adrenalectomy and it was restored to the control values by administration of DOCA.
3. The results obtained from the histochemical localization of p-NPP ase in the gland following these treatments corresponded with the results obtained by the biochemical studies.
4. Na^-loading did not directly affect the restoration of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity in the salivary gland after adrenalectomy but it seemed to increase the action of mineralocorticoid.
5. It is suggested that the Na ion is an important factor which affects water transport from the gland.
6. It may be suggested that glucocorticoid also affects the restoration of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity at the presense of DOCA or Na ion.

View full abstract

Rectangular coordinate values of the position of the teeth on the dental arch were measured from standardized photographs of Japanese dentitions. Data were obtained from 281 dental casts consisting of 217 males (upper jaw: 116, lower jaw: 101) and 64 females (upper jaw: 28, lower jaw: 36) ranging in age from 16 to 22 years.
These data were transformed into polar coordinate values which served a quantitative description of the size and shape of the dental arches using Fourier analysis. Fourier analysis facilitates a morphological study of the dental arch using two separation components which are recognizable as the size and the shape.
The shape of dental arch were described accurately by only two or three harmonics in the Fourier series. This meant that the amount of information of raw data (a total of 28 x and y coordinate values) were reduced to minimal significant variables.
The constant values of Fourier series that represented the size of dental arch were highly correlatable with the mesiodistal diameter of tooth crown in both the upper and lower jaws, espcially those of both the canine and first molar. This facts indicated that the size of the canine and first molar among the teeth in each jaw might have some important role in determining the size of the dental arch.
The amplitudes, when synthesized the sine and cosine wave in the same harmonic, represented the feature of dental arch shape. Moreover, when the constant value was standardized, the effects of size can be removed. The amplitude of first harmonic, which removed the size effects, represented the approximate shape which showed the ratio between dental arch length and width. This is confirmed by the results obtained from a principal component analysis of dental arch. The principal compnents were obtained from the correlation matrix of 13 measurements, which consisted of 7 widths and 6 lengths of dental arch which was calculated from the rectangular coordinate values as standardized as the dental arch area. Approximately fifty percent of the information was centered in the first component in each jaw, and this was regarded as a ratio between the dental arch length and width. The first composite score was highly correlatable with the amplitude of first harmonic.
The amplitude of the second harmonic represented both the inclination of the posterior teeth and squareness of the anterior teeth in their alignment. It was notable that the second amplitude corresponded to the second and third principal component factors.
The shape of the dental arch was classified by cluster analysis using the first and second amplitudes into 7 clusters. When the typical arch shape of each cluster was compared with each other, the first and second amplitude demonstrated the variation of dental arch shape.
The constant values, first and scond amplitudes in upper jaw were highly correlatable with those in lower jaw. This fact indicated that the morphology of dental arch was in harmony between the upper and lower jaws. These correlation coefficients were larger in males than in females. This fact suggested that similarity between the upper and lower dental arch shapes was higher in males than in females, which might be related to the fact that the dental crowding and arthrosis of temporomandibular joint were more frequently found in females than in males.
No clear correlation was found between teeth size and first or second amplitudes. This fact indicates that dental arch shape was independent from each tooth size. It seems that dental arch shape is strongly influenced by the morphology of the maxillary and mandibular bones and the functional effects of jaw movements during mastication.

View full abstract

This study carried out to establish the cell culture of normal human salivary gland, and it'spossible for clinical application. Normal specimen of labial mino alivary glands obtained from the operative were immediately rinsed into 2% foe al bovine serum containing MEM (2 % FCS MEM) and minced to fragments of 2-3 mm³ size by fine pincettes. These fragments were incubated in 10 % FCS supplemented with EGF (10 ng/ml) and fungizon (10 mcg/ml) at 37°C using 5% CO₂ incubatorand culture medium was changed every 2 weeks. After 4 days incubation, small globules of saliva were found on the fragments and cell growth from the periphery of these fragments was observed from the 7 th day of culture. The monolayer of cells which originated from the tissue of the minor salivary glands were trypsinized and subcultured every 2 week. After 2 months, these cells were cultured on coverslips and stained with Haematoxylin-Alcian Blue-Pass-Masson and May Giemsa. Among these stained cells fibroblast-like cells, myoepithelal-like cells, salivary-duct-like cells and mucous-like cells were observed in when examined with the light microscope. Moreover salivary duct like cells which were identified morphologically in the stained preparations of Haematoxylin - Alcian Blue-Pass-Masson, were also specifically determined by indirect immunoenzyme antibody techniques using sera from Sjögren's syndrome patients.
These results clearly indicated that human salivary duct cells could be cultured in vitro for 2 months and these cells might be usefull for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome patients, if a salivary duct cell line could be established.

View full abstract

Transsynaptic destruction of dendrites of second order neurons is known to take placefollowing peripheral axotomy of primary afferent neurons. This study examines the effect of systemicadministration of a convulsant strychnine on the transsynaptic effect of transection of the inferior alveolar nerve in adult rats. Following transection of the inferior alveolar nerve, 1 mg/kg/day of strychinewas administered intraperitoneally at various posttransectional intervals for 3-23 days. The experimentrevealed degeneration of neuronal cell bodies in the subnucleus caudalis of the nucleus tractusspinalis of the trigeminal nerve when the experiment was terminated somewhere between 18 and 30days posttransectionally. Most of degenerating neurons occupied the dorsal half of the subnucleus caudalisipsilateral to the nerve transection. No degeneration observable at the light microscopic levelwas seen in control experiments which examined the effects of either transection or strychnine admin-istration alone. The time-dependency of transsynaptic degeneration, together with the fact that aglycine antagonist enhanced the transsynaptic effect, suggests that the transsynaptic neuronal destructionis caused by the electrical hyperactivity of injured primary neurons.

View full abstract

The purpose of this paper is to report the occurrence of the phagocytosis of collagenfibrils by fibroblasts in the sound dental pulp. The materials used were lower second molar pulps ofa five-year old rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) which was killed by perfusion with a 1.25% glutaraldehyde-0.75% paraformaldehyde fixative. The molars were dissected out of the mandible, demineralizedin EDTA and embedded in epoxy resin for ultrasectioning. The observations were focussedprimarily on the fibroblasts which were distributed in the cell rich zones and central regions of thepulps. The sections cut were observed with an electron microscope after staining with uranyl acetate and lead citrate.
Collagen-containing bodies, varying in diameter from 0.05μm to 0.3μm, were frequently observedwithin the fibroblasts. When they occurred in the cytoplasmic processes, the bodies showed elongateprofiles, and contained collagen fibrils with the typically banded structures. In the bodies which appearedto be more centrally placed in the cells, the banded structures were vague or impossible to see onthe collagen fibrils which were surrounded by electron dense material. Fusion of lysosomal granuleswith the collagen-containing bodies could be seen in some cases. These observation indicate that thefibroblasts in the pulps are involved in the phagocytosis and degradation of collagen fibrils, a functionwhich has also been observed in the periodontal ligament and gingiva.

View full abstract

The shape changes of erythrocyte membranes caused by lidocaine, and its quantitative effect on the glycolytic intermediates, ATP and ADP, were studied with a view to clarifying the mechanism of the anesthetic action induced by local anesthetics. The biconcave discoid shape of normal human erythrocytes was altered into a cup-form by more than 0.87 mM lidocaine. This phenomenon was caused when the level of ATP was greater than 0.4 μEmol/ml red cell and wa found to be more obvious with increased lidocaine concentration and longer incubation time.
In addition, when glucose was present at a greater level than normal the fresh erythrocytes incubated with more than 0.87 mM lidocaine, showed a slight decrease in glucose and lactate level, while other glycolytic intermediates, ATP and ADP were unchanged.
These results suggest that the glycolytic system in the human erythrocyte is affected by concentrations of 0.87 mM lidocaine or higher, the shape changes of the erythrocyte due to lidocainebeing ATP-dependent.

View full abstract

Teeth of the adult Rana nigromaculata nigromaculata are found on the premaxilla, maxilla and vomer of the upper jaw. The crowns have a lingual and labial cusp.
The enamel which covers the crown extends cervically until it reaches the enamel-pedicel junction. The ultrastrctural organization of the enamel in the cusps where the enamel matrices are oriented at right angles to the tooth surface, differs from that in the e amel-pedicel junction region where the matrices are oriented at irregular angles. The dentine consists of three layers, an outmost layer near the enamel-dentine junction, a peripheral layer, and a layer near to the pulp. These layers contain dental tubules and mineral and organic matrices.
The pulp has a small number of odontoblasts, a cell-free and cell-rich zone and fibroblasts.

View full abstract

The intraoral cariogenicity of glucose, isomaltose, maltosylfructoside (4^G-α-glucosylsucrose) and Coupling Sugar^® were tested in the human mouth using two types (A and B) of intraoral cariogenicity test (ICT) systems. A-ICT system is a model for caries occurring at tooth sites which are protected from the influence of rapid cleaning by salivary flow and physical contact with tongue and cheeks. B-ICT system is a model for caries occurring at such exposed unprotected sites. The ICT results were characteristically different between the systems and showed an extremely wide variation among 20 subjects, but the intrasubject variations were relatively small.
In comparison with sucrose supplementation, supplementation with the above sugars in the B-ICT strongly diminished not only the amounts and carbohydrate contents of ICT plaques but also the cell populations of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in the plaques, but this did not occur in the A-ICT system. The intraoral cariogenicity of isomaltose and maltosylfructoside, which was evaluated by the extent of demineralization of the ICT slabs, was significantly less than that of sucrose in both the ICTs, while the reduced cariogenicity of glucose and Coupling Sugar^® were only observed in the B-ICT.

View full abstract

Many studies have been made so far on physiological and morphological (histological, histochemical and ultrastructural) observations of the human and animal salivary glands in health and diseases. However, none of them have made reference to the function and microscopic structure of the main excretory duct of major salivary glands.
We previously reported microanatomical findings of the main excretory ducts of the human parotid gland (called Stensen's or Stenon's duct) taken from postmortem subjects. The present paper reports the results of microanatomical examination of the parotid duct taken from Macaca irus.

View full abstract