Inhibition of molar eruption and root elongation in MT1-MMP-deficient mice.

To study whether eruption of teeth and root growth require remodeling of collagen in the peridental tissues, we studied molar development in mice deficient in MT1-MMP, an enzyme essential for remodeling of soft tissue-hard tissue interfaces. The lower jaws of deficient mice and their wildtype littermates were subjected to stereologic analysis. It was shown that in deficient animals, eruption and root elongation were severely inhibited, signifying a role of the enzyme in these developmental processes.