Figure 2. Osteocytes Deposit Mineral during the Recovery Period Post-Lactation.

Double fluorochrome labeling of bone from virgin, lactating and post-lactation mice. Distinct double labels can be found at the surface (insets) of virgin and post-lactating mice. Only an intermittent single label is seen at the surface of lactating bone given the rapid turnover. In virgin mice, some label was taken up in osteocyte lacunae near the mineralization front (white arrows, left panel). However, osteocyte lacunae distant from the mineralization front were labeled with both fluorochromes in post-lactating mice, suggesting active mineralization around osteocytes in the period of recovery from lactation. (adapted from Qing et al, J Bone Miner Res 27:1018–1029, 2012 with permission)