Innervation of the tooth pulp by the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus in the cat: a retrograde horseradish peroxidase study.

HRP was applied to the tooth pulp of 8 cats. Six were subjected to postoperative administration of the anti-inflammatory drug, prednisolone, whereas the remaining two were not. In all prednisolone-treated cats, labeled neurons were found in both the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus and trigeminal ganglion, ipsilaterally. On the other hand, no labeled neurons were observed in the mesencephalic nucleus in cats receiving no steroid.