Restoration of disturbed tooth eruption in osteopetrotic (op/op) mice by injection of macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Osteopetrotic (op/op) mice show severe osteosclerosis caused by an inherited deficiency of osteoclast and resultant failure of tooth eruption, which can be cured by the injection of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The present study revealed that consecutive injections of M-CSF in these mutant mice brought about a recovery of bone resorption resulting in the resumption of growth of tooth root and periodontal ligament. Bone resorption at the inner surface of bony crypts was noted on the 5th day after the start of M-CSF injections. This activity was reduced with the progress of root and periodontal ligament formation, being confined to the basal and crestal portion of bony crypts by the 15th day of the experiment. Second molars emerged into the oral cavity on the 15th day, but no eruption of first molars was observed until the 20th day. Throughout the experiment, first molars exhibited appreciable root deformity, which was less severe in second molars. Delayed eruption of first molars was thought to be related to the severity of the disturbance of root formation.