The Periodontium Damage Induces Neuronal Cell Death in the Trigeminal Mesencephalic Nucleus and Neurodegeneration in the Trigeminal Motor Nucleus in C57BL/6J Mice

Proprioception from masticatory apparatus and periodontal ligaments comes through the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus (Vmes). We evaluated effects of tooth loss on neurodegeneration Vmes motor (Vmo). Bilateral maxillary molars 2-month-old C57BL/6J mice were extracted under anesthesia. Neural projections to periodontium confirmed by injecting Fluoro-Gold (FG) retrogradely into extraction sockets, for anterograde labeling adeno-associated virus encoding green fluorescent protein (AAV-GFP) was applied. For immunohistochemistry, Piezo2, ATF3, Caspase 3, ChAT TDP-43 antibodies used. At 1 month after extraction, number Piezo2-immunoreactive (IR) neurons decreased significantly. ATF3-IR detected day 5 extraction. Dead cleaved caspase-3-IR found among days 7 12. In Vmo, neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs) formation type increased at 2 months These indicate existence neural in that induces death followed pathology Vmo. Therefore, cell death, causing Vmo presumably affecting function.