The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of periodontal ligament cells of rat teeth after low-temperature preservation under high pressure by means of MTT assay, WST-1 assay. 12 teeth of Sprague-Dawley white female rats of 4 week-old were used for each group.

Both side of the first and second maxillary molars were extracted as atraumatically as possible under tiletamine anesthesia. The experimental groups were group 1 (Immediate extraction), group 2 (Slow freezing under pressure of 3 MPa), group 3 (Slow freezing under pressure of 2 MPa), group 4 (Slow freezing under no additional pressure), group 5 (Rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen under pressure of 2 MPa), group 6 (Rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen under no additional pressure), group 7 (low-temperature preservation at 0℃ under pressure of 2 MPa), group 8 (low-temperature preservation at 0℃ under no additional pressure), group 9 (low-temperature preservation at -5℃ under pressure of 90 MPa). F-medium and 10% DMSO were used as preservation medium and cryo-protectant. For cryo-preservation groups, thawing was performed in 37℃ water bath, then MTT assay, WST-1 assay were processed. One way ANOVA and Tukey HSD method were performed at the 95% level of confidence. The values of optical density obtained by MTT assay and WST-1 were divided by the values of eosin staining for tissue volume standardization.

In both MTT and WST-1 assay, group 7 (0℃/2 MPa) showed higher viability of periodontal ligament cells than other group (2-6, 8) and this was statistically significant (p < 0.05), but showed lower viability than group 1, immediate extraction group (no statistical significance).

By the results of this study, low-temperature preservation at 0℃ under pressure of 2 MPa suggest the possibility for long term preservation of teeth.

The purpose of this study was to characterize functional distinction between human dental pulp cells(PC) and periodontal ligament cells(PDLC) using cDNA microarray assay and to confirm the results of the microarray assay using RT-PCR. 3 genes out of 51 genes which were found to be more expressed(>2 fold) in PC were selected, and 3 genes out of 19 genes which were found to be more expressed(>2 fold) in PDLC were selected for RT-PCR as well.

According to this study, the results were as follows:

1. From the microarray assay, 51 genes were more expressed (2 fold) from PC than PDLC.

2. RT-PCR confirmed that ITGA4 and TGF β2 were more expressed in PC than in PDLC.

3. From the microarray assay, 19 genes were more expressed (2 fold) from PDLC than PC.

4. RT-PCR confirmed that LUM, WISP1, and MMP1 were more expressed in PDLC than in PC.

From the present study, different expression of the genes between the PC and PDLC were characterized to show the genes which play an important role in dentinogenesis were more expressed from PC than PDLC, while the genes which were related with collagen synthesis were more expressed from PDLC than PC.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of periodontal ligament cells in rat teeth using slow cryo-preservation method under pressure by means of MTT assay and WST-1 assay. Eighteen teeth of Sprague-Dawley white female rats of 4 week-old were used for each group.

Both sides of the first and second maxillary molars were extracted as atraumatically as possible under Tiletamine anesthesia. The experimental groups were group 1 (Immediate control), group 2 (Cold preservation at 4°C for 1 week), group 3 (Slow freezing), group 4 (Slow freezing under pressure of 3 MPa). F-medium and 10% DMSO were used as preservation medium and cryo-protectant. For cryo-preservation groups, thawing was performed in 37°C water bath, then MTT assay and WST-1 assay were processed. One way ANOVA and Tukey method were performed at the 95% level of confidence. The values of optical density obtained by MTT assay and WST-1 were divided by the values of eosin staining for tissue volume standardization.

In both MTT and WST-1 assay, group 4 showed significantly higher viability of periodontal ligament cells than group 2 and 3 (p < 0.05), but showed lower viability than immediate control group.

By the results of this study, slow cryo-preservation method under pressure suggests the possibility for long term cryo-preservation of the teeth.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of periodontal ligament cell in rat teeth using slow cryopreservation method with magnetic field through MTT assay and TUNEL test. For each group, 12 teeth of 4 weeks old white female Sprague-Dawley rat were used for MTT assay, and 6 teeth in TUNEL test. The Maxillary left and right, first and second molars were extracted as atraumatically as possible under tiletamine anesthesia. The experimental groups were group1 (immediately extraction), group 2 (cold preservation at 4℃ for 1 week), group 3 (rapid cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen), group 4 (slow cryopreservation with magnetic field of 1 G), and group 5 (slow cryopreservation). F medium was used as preservation medium and 10% DMSO as cryoprotectant. After preservation and thawing, the MTT assay and TUNEL test were processed. One way ANOVA and Scheffe method were performed at the 95% level of confidence. The value of optical density obtained after MTT analysis was divided by the value of eosin staining for tissue volume standardization. In both MTT assay and TUNEL test, it had showed no significant difference among group 3, 4, and 5. And group 3 had showed higher viability of periodontal ligament cell than group 2.

From this study, slow cryopreservation method with magnetic field can be used as one of cryopreservation methods.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiopacity and cytotoxicity of three resin-based (AH 26, EZ fill and AD Seal), a zinc oxide-eugenol-based (ZOB Seal), and a calcium hydroxide-based (Sealapex) root canal sealers. Specimens, 10 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness, were radiographed simultaneously with an aluminum step wedge using occlusal films, according to ISO 6876/2001 standards. Radiographs were digitized, and the radiopacity of sealers was compared to the different thicknesses of the aluminum step wedge, using the Scion image software. Using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the cytotoxicity of each material was determined in immortalized human periodontal ligament (IPDL) cells.

The results demonstrated that EZ fill was the most radiopaque sealer, while Sealapex was the least radiopaque (p < 0.05). AH 26, AD Seal and ZOB Seal presented intermediate radiopacity values. All the materials evaluated, except for Sealapex, presented the minimum radiopacity required by ISO standards. The cell viabilities of resin-based root canal sealers were statistically higher than that of other type of root canal sealers through the all experimental time. Further, EZ fill showed statistically lower cell viability in 24 and 48 hours compared to AD Seal and in 72 hours compared to all other resin-based root canal sealers. However, there was no correlation between the radiopacity and cytotoxicity of three resin-based root canals sealers (p > 0.05).

These results indicate that resin-based root canal sealer is more biocompatible and has advantage in terms of radiopacity.

The purpose of this study was to verify the usefulness of MTT analysis as a tool of measurement of the periodontal ligament cell viability from the extracted rat molar.

A total of 80 Sprague-Dawley white female rat of 4 week-old with a body weight of 100 grams were used. The maxillary left and right, first and second molars were extracted under Ketamine anesthesia. Twenty-four teeth of each group (divided as five groups depending upon the time-lapse after extraction such as immediate, 10, 20, 40 and 60 minutes) were immersed in 200 µl of MTT solution (0.5 mg/ml) and processed for optical density measurements . Another 10 teeth of each group were treated as same as above and sectioned at 10 µm for microscopic examination.

All measurements values were divided by the value of hematoxylin-eosin staining which represented the volume of each corresponding samples. Immediate and 10 minute groups showed highest MTT values followed by 20, 40, and 60 minutes consecutively. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) existed between all groups except in immediate versus 10 minute groups and 40 versus 60 minutes. Histological findings also showed similar findings with MTT results in crystal shape and crystal numbers between the experimental groups.

These data indicate that in vivo MTT analysis may be of value for evaluation of the periodontal ligament cell viability without time- consuming cell culturing processes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the viability of PDL cells in rat molars by using in vivo MTT assay, which was used to compare fast cryopreservation group by liquid nitrogen (-196℃) with 4℃ cold preservation group.

A total of 74 Sprague-Dawley white female rats of 4 week-old with a body weight of 100 grams were used. The maxillary left and right, first and second molars were extracted as atraumatically as possible under ketamine anesthesia.

Ten teeth of each group were divided as six experimental groups depending upon the preservation. Cryopreservation groups were Group 1 (5% DMSO 6% HES in F medium), Group 2 (10% DMSO in F medium), Group 3 (5% DMSO 6% HES in Viaspan®), Group 4 (10% DMSO in Viaspan®) which were cryopreserved for 1 week and cold preservation groups were Group 5 (F medium), Group 6 (Viaspan®) at 4℃ for 1 week. Immediate extraction group was used as a control. After preservation and thawing, the in vivo MTT assay was processed. Two way ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test was performed at the 95% level of confidence. Another 2 teeth of each group were treated as the same manner and frozen sections 10 µm thick for microscopic observation.

The value of optical density obtained after in vivo MTT analysis was divided by the value of eosin staining for tissue volume standardization. Group 1, 2 had significantly higher optical density than Group 3 and 4 which had the lowest OD value. Group 6 had higher OD value than in Group 5 (P < 0.05). Histological findings of periodontal ligament cell, after being stained with MTT solution were consistent with the in vivo MTT assay results.

In this study, the groups which were frozen with DMSO as a cryoprotectant and the groups with F medium showed the best results.