Size changes in miR‑21 knockout mice: Geometric morphometrics on teeth, alveolar bone and mandible

• DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.11924
• Publication Date: 2021-02-18T19:39:35Z
• Authors: Uwe Schwarze; Yuxin Ni; Yanmin Zhou; Lucia Terlecki‑Ζa...; Markus Schosserer; Matthias Hackl; Johannes Grillari; Reinhard Gruber
• Keywords: Morphometrics; Mandible (arthropod mouthpart); Prognathism; Conditional gene knockout; Knockout mouse

MicroRNA‑21 (miR‑21) is a small non‑coding RNA that differentially expressed during tooth development, particularly amelogenesis. Although orthodontic movement and the innate immune response are impaired, miR‑21 knockout mice demonstrate no obvious skeletal phenotype. However, consequence of on phenotype corresponding alveolar bone unknown. The current study utilized landmark‑based geometric morphometrics to identify anatomical dissimilarities three lower upper molars, bone, in wild‑type control mice. structures were visualized by microcomputer tomography. A total 36 38 landmarks placed mandibular maxillary respectively. For 16 selected both sites. General Procrustes analysis revealed significantly smaller molars dimensions mandible when compared with controls (P=0.03 P=0.04, respectively). overall dimension was reduced lack (P=0.02). In maxilla, significant (P=0.02); however, this not observed (P=0.36). Based principal component analysis, changes shape for any sites observed. Dental jaw length calculated prognathism identified. fluctuating asymmetry maxilla 27%, Taken together, results present respective littermates, suggesting influences development.