Fig. 5: Significant increase of apoptotic osteocytes and empty lacunae in ∆130–136 mice after ovariectomy.
From: Connexin 43 hemichannels protect bone loss during estrogen deficiency
a Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of paraffin sections showed increased numbers of empty lacunae in femoral cortical bones in ovariectomized Δ130–136 mice, but minimal differences in R76W compared to WT mice. The solid arrowheads point to the empty lacunae. Scale bar = 200 μm. b Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining showed increased signals (red) in osteocytes of ovariectomized Δ130–136 mice; the nuclei counter-stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) (blue) (left panels) and merged phase images (right panels). Scale bar = 100 μm. Empty lacunae and TUNEL signals per mm2 of cortical bone area were quantified by NIH Image J. Data shown are mean ± SEM. **P < 0.01. n = 4–7
