Fig. 4

Running exercise derepresses Nrf2 and protects mice from osteoporosis. Female ICR mice were divided into the sham, RE, Ovx and RE/Ovx groups as described in the methods (6 mice in each group). a Representative photomicrographs of H&E-stained (the upper panel), micro-CT-scanned distal femoral trabecula (the middle panel) and cortex (the lower panel). b Three-dimensional microstructural analyses of distal femurs in Fig. 4a. Bone mineral density (BMD, mg·ccm⁻¹), the ratio of bone volume to tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) and cortical thickness (Ct.Th) were assessed. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM, *P < 0.05, two-way ANOVA. c Western blotting of Nrf2, collagen 1 (Col 1) and Runx2 from femur homogenates of the experimental mice. Two or three representative samples from each group are shown. d Quantification of Fig. 4c. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM of all experimental mice. *P < 0.05, one-way ANOVA. e Representative microphotographs of immunohistochemistry staining for TRAP and osteocalcin from mouse femur sections. The positively stained cells are indicated by arrows