Figure 1
From: P2X7 receptor regulates osteoclast function and bone loss in a mouse model of osteoporosis
Absence of the P2X7R alters bone loss in a mouse model of osteoporosis. Sixteen week old, virgin, female BALB/cJ P2X7R+/+ and BALB/cJ P2X7R−/− mice were bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) or ovaries were exposed without removal (SHAM). Six weeks after surgery, proximal ends of tibiae were μCT scanned. (A) Representative μCT images of the tibial cortical bone is shown in the top panel and 3D models of the trabecular bone, built from a region of 1.0 mm thick trabecular bone 0.2 mm below the growth plate in the tibia, is shown in the bottom panel. Scale bar = 1 mm. The bone structural changes were characterized by measuring parameters including (B) cortical bone volume (Ct.BV), (C) trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), (D) trabecular Structure Model Index (SMI) and (E) trabecular pattern factor (Tb.Pf). (H to I) To further determine the differential respond to OVX between the two strains, the percentage changes in the bone architecture after OVX (% of (1-OVX/mean of SHAM) were also compared. All values are mean ± SEM, n = 6–9 mice per group. *p < 0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, indicate statistically significant differences, using unpaired parametric t-test or non-parametric Mann-Whitney test as appropriate.
