Figure 12. Mechanical loading of bone in Cx43 deficient and wild type mice.

An enhanced periosteal osteoblastic response was observed in 6 month old Cx43 deficient mice (KO) relative to wild type (WT) when the right tibias of each were exposed to mechanical loading that induced equivalent peak normal strains. p.MS, p.MAR and p.BFR are reported for contralateral (C) and loaded tibias (L). p.MS and p.BFR were significantly greater in loaded tibia, relative to contralateral, in Cx43 deficient mice but not wild type mice. p.Mar in loaded tibia was not significantly different than in contralateral tibia in Cx43 deficient or wild type mice. n = 7–9 mice per group, * p<0.05.