Local injection of RANKL facilitates tooth movement and alveolar bone remodelling

To investigate the effect of local injection of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) on experimental tooth movement and subsequent alveolar bone remodelling in mice.

Sixty mice were randomised to receive daily local RANKL or phosphate-buffered saline injections in the buccal premaxillary bone for 14 of 21 days of incisor movement, followed by a 21-day retention period. Five mice from each group were euthanised on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 42, and specimens were prepared for haematoxylin and eosin, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and immunohistochemical staining. Five mice from each group were subjected to serial microcomputed tomography until day 42 for tooth movement and bone volume quantification.

The experimental group showed significantly greater tooth movement and bone volume reduction on days 14 and 21; an increased osteoclast number on days 3, 7, 14 and 21; and no difference on day 42. Higher RANKL expression was observed on days 7 and 14, with remarkable alkaline phosphatase activity. No significant systemic changes were observed.

Local RANKL injection leads to increased osteoclastic activity and facilitates tooth movement, followed by subsequent alveolar bone formation; this implies a reversible transitional acceleration of bone resorption.