Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells around blood vessels are known as:

# Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells around blood vessels are known as:

A. Histiocytes

B. Pericytes

C. Fibroblast

D. Osteoblast

The correct answer is B. Pericytes.

Experimental studies have shown that a population of progenitor cells with the potential to differentiate into several distinct mesenchymal cell types can be isolated from the periodontal ligament. In cell culture, periodontal ligament stem cells can differentiate into cells that form bone, cementum, cartilage, fat, muscle, and neuron- and glial-like cells. Recent work indicates that perivascular cells (pericytes) associated with the microvasculature of alveolar bone and periodontal ligament of mice can differentiate into osteoblasts, cementoblasts, cementocytes, and periodontal ligament fibroblasts in

untreated animals, as well as after injury of the periodontium.

Reference: Fundamentals of Oral Histology and Physiology, Arthur R. Hand, 2014, Page no 128

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