The Effects of Several Peptides on Pulp Capped Ferret Canines

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if calcitonin (CT), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) promoted healing of exposed pulps when used as pulp-capping agents. Methods: The canines of 10 male ferrets (0.55+ 0.02 kg) were used. The ferrets were anesthetized and the pulps of 3 canines were exposed. The test substance was applied in a similar manner to all the teeth used. Each agent was dissolved in sterile saline and absorbed into a piece of sterile surgical absorbable sponge. The sponge with the agent or just saline in the untreated control teeth was placed in contact with the tooth pulp. After 6 weeks the ferrets were anesthetized and the canines extracted. All specimens were decalcified, sectioned, stained, and the slides examined. The amount of tertiary dentin and osteodentin was measured using a digitzer. Statistical analysis used the analysis of variance. The Health Sciences Animal Policy and Welfare Committee approved these studies. Results: The recombinant human BMP-2 induced significantly (p<0.01) more osteodentin (0.58+0.19 mm²) than CGRP (0.46+0.05 mm²), PTHrP (0.17+0.02 mm²), CT (0.2+0.06 mm²), or saline treated teeth (0.29+0.03 mm²). BMP-2 also significantly (p<0.01) promoted more tertiary dentin formation (0.56+0.18 mm²), than CGRP (0.38+0.04 mm²), PTHrP 0.02+0.01 mm²), CT (0.16+0.05 mm²), or saline treated teeth (0.14+0.03 mm²). Conclusions: BMP-2 promoted pulpal healing as did CGRP. Neither CT nor PTHrP appeared to promote either tertiary dentin or osteodentin formation.