Fig. 1

Apex1 silencing in limb bud mesenchyme results in metaphyseal dysplasia. a Representative 3D reconstruction, radiographic plane and general morphometric parameters for 4-week-old mice tibiae (WT, n = 36; P-Apex1^KO, n = 10). b Representative 3D reconstruction, radiographic plane and general morphometric parameters for 9-week-old mice tibiae (WT, n = 36; P-Apex1^KO, n = 10). Data are represented as median and interquartile range; whiskers represent maximal and minimal values. P values were determined by two-tailed Student’s t test. c Representative H&E staining and collagen distribution of tibia samples for 4-week-old mice. Dotted black lines label the edges of the growth plate. Scale bar: left panels, 500 μm; central and right panels, 100 μm. d Histomorphometric determination of growth plate length in 4-week-old animals. (WT, n = 11; P-Apex1^KO, n = 9). Data are represented as median and interquartile range; whiskers represent maximal and minimal values. P values were determined by two-tailed Student’s t test. e Representative H&E staining and collagen distribution for tibiae of 9-week-old mice. Scale bar, left panels,1 mm; central and right panels, 100 μm. f Histomorphometric determination of growth plate length in 9-week-old animals (WT, n = 8; P-Apex1^KO, n = 7). Data are represented as median and interquartile range; whiskers represent maximal and minimal values. P values were determined by Mann-Whitney U test. g, h Immunological evaluation of chondrocyte differentiation, cartilage degradation, and vascularization markers in the growth plate of 4-week-old mice (g) and 9-week-old mice (h). Scale bar: 100 μm. COL2, type II collagen; COL10, type X collagen; EMCN, Endomucin. Dotted white lines mark the chondro-osseous junction