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Figure 1. Sagittal views of the lower first, second, and third molars. The dento-alveolar ankylosis was indicated in the denervated rats (arrowhead in B compared with A). (C,D,E,F) Histological appearance of the first molars in sham (C,E) and denervated rats (D,F). E and F are higher-magnification views of the periodontal ligament in (C) and (D), respectively. (F) The dento-alveolar bone ankylosis (*) was evident at the coronal periodontal regions. (G) A diagram of regions of the morphometric measurement of first molars. Periodontal space width was measured between the arrows. (H) The periodontal space width was measured at 6, 8, and 10 wks after the denervation or sham operation. Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 5/group). AB, alveolar bone; PDL, periodontal ligament; D, dentin. Bar = 500 µm. *Significantly different from the value of the sham rats (P < 0.05). a, significantly different from the value of the 8w-DN rats (P < 0.05).
