Fig. 3

Osteoclast formation after treatment with MK-886. A Photomicrographs representative of enzyme histochemical findings for the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase enzyme (TRAP) obtained from healthy teeth, after LPS inoculation into the root canals, or after 7 and 14 days of treatment with MK-886. Original magnification 20 × (scale bar = 100 µm). B Graphic representation of the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase enzyme (TRAP) positive osteoclasts per lesion in the different groups at 7 and 14 days (median and interquartile range). Dashed line indicates number of TRAP + osteoclasts in healthy apical periodontal ligament. *p < 0.05 compared with healthy periodontal ligament; #p < 0.05 compared with inoculation of LPS alone into the root canals; &p < 0.05 comparison between 7 and 14 days of the same treatment