De Novo Regeneration of Dentin Pulp Complex Mediated by Adipose Derived Stem Cells in an Immunodefficient Albino Rat Model (Immunofluorescent and Scanning Electron Microscopic Study)

Abstract

The basis for regenerative medicine is the utilization of tissue engineering therapies. Regenerative endodontic procedures can be defined as biologically based procedures designed to replace damaged structures, including dentin and root structures, as well as cells of the pulp-dentin complex. In the current study, twenty male albino rats were used to transplant forty root segments collected from freshly extracted human incisors and single rooted premolars. Root segments were grouped in two major groups each with two subgroups; control group receiving only the self-assembling polypeptide scaffold and experimental group receiving fluorescent labeled adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells embedded in self-assembling polypeptide scaffold. Afterwards regenerating the dentin pulp complex in the emptied root canal space was attempted and investigation of the newly formed tissues using haematoxylin and eosin immunocytoflourescence, Masson trichrome and scanning electron microscopy. Examination of root transplants of control group revealed that root canal space was filled with granulation tissue with no evidence of predentin formation and no observable odontoblast like cells. While examination of root transplants of experimental group revealed the presence of a homogenous rim along the margin of dentin together with some odontoblast like cells along its margin, inside the root canal space an organized connective can be noticed with abundant vascular structures and numerous calcific masses. Hence it is concluded that Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells can be considered a readily accessible alternative stem cell source for dentin pulp complex regeneration.Dentin pulp complex regeneration utilizing self-assembling polypeptide scaffold alone would not yield successful results.