Objective The expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide（VIP） in dental pulp-dentin complex of human premolar was studied to find out the relationship of distribution and function of VIP positive nerve fibers. Methods Fresh health premolars were collected，fixed，decalcified，embedded in paraffin and cut into slices. The slices were treated by immunohistochemical reaction of VIP and quantitative image analysis was then carried out. Results VIP positive nerve fibers in dental root were in bundle and branches of the nerve fibers were few. The nerve fibers extended in a radiative way from cervical line to the coronal pulp and branched a lot. A part of branches surrounded blood vessels ,some terminated in the dental pulp matrix, the others passed odontoblast layer and ran into the predentin. In the coronal pulp the integral optical density was 12.740 0±1.807 0, the volume density was 0.019 2±0.012 7，the length density was 0.004 6±0.002 8；in predentin the integral optical density was 13.070 0±1.927 0，the line length was （19.600 0±8.597 0） μm. Conclusions VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibers exist in human dental pulp-dentin complex. Some fibers surround blood vessels, some terminate in dental pulp matrix and predentin, which suggest that in addition to relating the action of blood vessels , VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibers might also relate to sense.%目的研究血管活性肠肽(vasoactive intestinal peptide，VIP)在牙髓牙本质复合体中的表达，探讨其分布与功能的关系。方法收集新鲜健康的人前磨牙40颗，固定、脱钙、石蜡包埋切片，然后进行VIP免疫组化与图象定量分析。结果 VIP阳性神经纤维在根部呈束状，很少分支，从颈部至冠髓扇形分开，大量分支，部分围绕于血管，部分止于牙髓基质，部分经成牙本质细胞层进入前期牙本质。在冠髓的积分光密度为12.740 0±1.807 0，体密度为0.019 2±0.012 7，线密度为0.004 6±0.002 8；在前期牙本质的积分光密度为13.070 0±1.927 0，线段长度为（19.600 0±8.597 0）μm。结论VIP阳性神经纤维存在于人牙髓牙本质复合体中，部分围绕血管，部分止于牙髓基质和前期牙本质，这种分布提示该神经纤维除与血管运动有关外，可能还与感觉有关。
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