Immunolabelling of the normal rat molar periodontal ligament (PDL) with RECA-1 antibody, an endothelial cell surface marker, demonstrated the endothelium in the different categories of blood vessels. The intensity of immunolabelling was similar for venous capillaries (VC), post-capillary-sized venules (PCV), and collecting venules (CV). Arterial capillaries (AC) and terminal arterioles (TA) showed a different response, both having a high intensity of endothelium and smooth muscle cell labelling, whether they were located in the PDL or alveolar bone. An experimental, continuous loading of ≈100...

Immunolabelling of the normal rat molar periodontal ligament (PDL) with RECA-1 antibody, an endothelial cell surface marker, demonstrated the endothelium in the different categories of blood vessels. The intensity of immunolabelling was similar for venous capillaries (VC), post-capillary-sized venules (PCV), and collecting venules (CV). Arterial capillaries (AC) and terminal arterioles (TA) showed a different response, both having a high intensity of endothelium and smooth muscle cell labelling, whether they were located in the PDL or alveolar bone. An experimental, continuous loading of ≈100 g was applied unilaterally to the mandibular molars for 10 minutes. In the PDL apical compression zone this load resulted in a loss of RECA-1 immunolabelling of the VC, PCV, and CV. Adjacent to the alveolar crest, where shear and tension loads were judged to have occurred, there was enhanced immunoreactivity of VC, PCV, and CV. In the loaded PDL, the AC and TA, irrespective of their location in the ligament or bone, showed strong immunofluorescence of their endothelium and the enveloping smooth muscle layer. Vessel and PDL immunofluorescence were analysed with standardized grey scale densitometry, and the data subjected to ANOVA. Comparison between individual vessel means showed significant differences (P<0.05). Control teeth showed no immunostaining difference between the coronal and apical region vessels, whereas in the loaded teeth the overall cervical vessel endothelium had a significantly higher value than the apical vessel endothelium (P<0.001). These findings demonstrate that the endothelium of this microvascular bed can undergo significant immunoreactivity changes when exposed to short-term, continuous, tooth loading.