Uptake and transneuronal transport of horseradish peroxidase-wheat germ agglutinin by tooth pulp primary afferent neurons.

Horseradish peroxidase-wheat germ agglutinin (HRP-WGA) applied to proximal stumps of tooth pulp primary afferent neurons in rats was taken up and transported transneuronally to neurons in the ipsilateral trigeminal brainstem nuclear complex. The results of this study suggest that HRP-WGA transport may be a novel means of labeling both primary and higher order neurons that transmit tooth pulp sensory information in the rat and may be used to investigate the fine structure and synaptic contacts of central nervous system neurons that receive tooth pulp afferent input.