Strontium ranelate suppressed the expression of proteins central to the NF-κB pathway in rats. (a) Immunohistochemical staining images of p-IKKα/β, IκBα, and p65 at the pressure side of the first molars on day 7 in different groups. The mean optical density (MOD) (b) and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) (d) of p-IKKα/β, IκBα, and p65 at the pressure side of the first molars on days 3, 7, and 14 in different groups. (n = 5, mean ± SD, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001). (c) Immunofluorescence staining images of p-IKKα/β, IκBα, and p65 at the pressure side of the first molars on day 7 in different groups. The white dashed lines indicate the margin of the tooth root.