NON-MYELINATED NERVE-FIBERS AND THEIR TERMINALS IN THE SUB-ODONTOBLASTIC PLEXUS OF THE FELINE DENTAL-PULP

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 130  (MAY) , 457-467
Abstract
Serial ultrathin sections of the sub-odontoblastic neural plexus were examined. The plexus consists of many slender, predominantly unmyelinated nerve fibers. Many axons are incompletely sheathed by their Schwann cell. Some axons leave the Schwann cell sheath and either end in the extracellular space or return to the Schwann cell after travelling a short distance. Several axons are often seen in close contact within a single invagination of the Schwann cell. They remain in contact for up to 7 .mu.m. Both Schwann cells and axons are seen to branch in this region. These features may be characteristic of nerve fibers and terminals which respond to noxious stimuli.