Fig. 9: Lipid and glucose metabolism in Lrp4m/SOST^ko mice and SOST^ko mice with or without sclerostin overproduction in vivo.

a The schematic diagram of construction strategy for mouse models. b Body weights of Lrp4m/SOST^ko mice and SOST^ko mice with or without sclerostin overproduction. c Fat pad weights in Lrp4m/SOST^ko mice and SOST^ko mice with or without sclerostin overproduction. gWAT: gonadal white adipose tissue; iWAT: inguinal white adipose tissue; rpWAT: retroperitoneal white adipose tissue; iBAT: interscapular brown adipose tissue. d Serum free fatty acids in Lrp4m/SOST^ko mice and SOST^ko mice with or without sclerostin overproduction. e Representative images of histological sections (upper) and frequency distribution of adipocyte sizes (lower) in gWAT and iWAT from Lrp4m/SOST^ko mice and SOST^ko mice with or without sclerostin overproduction. Scale bars, 100 μm. f Expression levels of genes associated with lipid anabolism (Acaca, Srebp2, Lpl, and Fasn) and catabolism (Acads, Cpt1a, and Acadvl) in gWAT from Lrp4m/SOST^ko mice and SOST^ko mice with or without sclerostin overproduction detected by qPCR. g Fasting blood glucose in Lrp4m/SOST^ko mice and SOST^ko mice with or without sclerostin overproduction. h Glucose metabolism in Lrp4m/SOST^ko mice and SOST^ko mice with or without sclerostin overproduction. Glucose tolerance test (GTT) (left), insulin tolerance test (ITT) (middle), and area under the curve (AUC) analysis for GTT and ITT (right). i Expression levels of genes associated with glucose metabolism in gWAT from Lrp4m/SOST^ko mice and SOST^ko mice with or without sclerostin overproduction detected by qPCR. Note: n = 6 biologically independent samples per group. All data were expressed as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001 for intergroup comparison (SOST^ko vs. SOST^ko + SOST). Statistical significance was calculated using unpaired t-test. ns: no significance. All tests were two-sided.