Quantification of neuropeptides (calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P, neurokinin A, neuropeptide Y and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) expressed in healthy and inflamed human dental pulp

Aim To quantify the expression of calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in healthy and inflamed human dental pulp tissue. Methodology Six pulp samples were obtained from teeth having a clinical diagnosis of acute irreversible pulpitis. Another 12 pulp samples were obtained from premolars where extraction was indicated for orthodontic purposes. In six of these premolar teeth inflammation was induced by mechanical pulp exposure prior to sample collection. All samples were processed and 125I‐labelled; neuropeptides were quantified by competition assays. anova and Mann–Whitney's (post hoc) tests were used to establish statistically significant differences between the groups. Results Expression of five neuropeptides was found in all human pulp samples. Statistical analysis revealed a significantly higher (P