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Pulpal Response of Scorbutic Guinea Pigs to Injury¹

Department of Histopathology, School of Dentistry, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1. This study was based on serial sections of the mandibular incisors of guinea pigs having acute and chronic scurvy, with pair-fed and ad libitum-fed controls. When symptoms of scurvy, acute or chronic, became apparent, cavities were prepared in the area just anterior to the mental foramen. Some of the guinea pigs having acute scurvy were given a single dose of 3 mg of ascorbic acid following cavity preparation. After sacrifice both mandibular incisors were processed for histologic staining with hematoxylin and eosin and azure B.

2. The operated incisor of the guinea pigs with acute scurvy showed almost a complete cessation of dentin deposition, no recognizable odontoblasts, and a decrease in pulpal cell population. The reaction to the insult was generalized. The unoperated pulp differed in that the cell population of the pulp was greater and the cells more viable.

3. No essential difference was noted between the operated and unoperated incisor in animals with chronic scurvy.

4. The characteristic reaction of both the pair-fed and the ad libitum-fed controls was a greatly increased deposition of regular dentin following cavity preparation.

5. In the controls and in chronic scurvy the odontoblasts stained most intensely for ribonucleic acid. In acute scurvy, however, the centrally located cells of the pulp were the most intensely stained.

6. The possible correlation between ribonucleic acid content and ascorbic acid metabolism is discussed.

Manuscript received 26 October 1960.