Fig. 6: Loss of Dach1 reduces rEC number and trabecular bone.
From: Specialized post-arterial capillaries facilitate adult bone remodelling
a, UMAP plot (integrated scRNA-seq dataset of all age groups) showing Dach1 expression in rECs (arrow). Colour bar illustrates the expression level. b, Representative confocal images of DACH1 immunostaining (green) in 6-week-old Cdh5-mTnG (red) reporter femur. DACH1+ rECs near TB (green) are marked by white arrowheads. c, Scheme of tamoxifen-induced EC-specific Dach1 inactivation. d, Tile-scan confocal images of EMCN+VEGFR3−CAV1+ rECs (white arrowheads) and EMCN−VEGFR3−CAV1+ aECs (yellow arrowheads) in 12-week-old Dach1iΔEC loss-of-function and littermate control femur. Growth plate (GP) is indicated. e, Quantitation of EMCN+ vessel density, EMCN+VEGFR3− vessel density, and number of CAV1+ arteries in 12-week-old Dach1iΔEC and control femur (n = 3–4 female mice per group). Mean ± s.e.m. P values, unpaired two-tailed t-test. Emcn+ vessel density plotted with Welch’s correction. f, High-magnification images of metaphysis near GP (left) and of EMCN+VEGFR3− vessels (white arrowheads; right) around TB in 12-week-old male Dach1iΔEC and control femurs. White dashed lines in d and f indicate type H area. g, Representative 3D reconstruction of µCT measurements of 12-week-old Dach1iΔEC and control femoral bone. Dashed yellow lines indicate area analysed. h, Quantitation shows relative bone volume, represented as bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) and trabecular thickness (per mm) (n = 3–4 female mice per group and n = 3 male mice per group). Mean ± s.e.m. P values were plotted using an unpaired two-tailed t-test.
