Table 2. Trabecular and Cortical Bone Parameters, Serum Bone Markers and Regulatory T cells in Bone Marrow.
| Sham | Ovx | |||||
| Veh | L. Para | L. Mix | Veh | L. Para | L. Mix | |
| Trabecular Bone | ||||||
| BV/TV (%) | 16.2±0.7 | 16.8±0.8 | 17.4±0.8 | 13.2±0.7** | 14.4±0.6* | 13.8±0.5** |
| BMD (mg/cm3) | 322±9 | 331±12 | 344±8 | 285±9* | 302±7* | 298±7** |
| Tb Th (μm) | 45.3±0.7 | 46.0±0.7 | 47.9±1.0 | 43.2±0.8 | 42.7±0.8** | 44.6±1.0* |
| Tb N (mm−1) | 3.6±0.1 | 3.6±0.2 | 3.6±0.1 | 3.1±0.1* | 3.4±0.1 | 3.1±0.1* |
| Tb Sp (μm) | 124±1 | 124±1 | 124±1 | 126±1 | 124±1 | 127±1 |
| Cortical Bone | ||||||
| Crt Thk (μm) | 181±2 | 180±3 | 186±3 | 168±2** | 173±2 | 176±2#* |
| Tt Ar (mm2) | 1.96±0.02 | 1.96±0.04 | 1.86±0.04 | 1.92±0.07 | 2.00±0.03 | 1.92±0.03 |
| Serum Bone Markers | ||||||
| C-terminal telopeptides (ng/ml) | 12.6±2.2 | 17.6±1.6 | 18.4±1.7 | 18.2±1.4* | 21.1±1.6 | 22.6±1.7 |
| Osteocalcin (ng/ml) | 90.9±10.4 | 97.1±6.7 | 105.6±6.1 | 159.9±11.8** | 142.1±7.9** | 136.9±6.5** |
| Treg (%CD4+Foxp3+CD25+) | 0.117±0.023 | 0.109±0.017 | 0.090±0.017 | 0.054±0.004* | 0.069±0.008 | 0.070±0.014 |
Eight-week-old mice were treated with either vehicle (veh), a single Lactobacillus (L) strain (L. para) or a mixture of three strains (L. mix) during 6 weeks, starting two weeks before ovx or sham surgery to study the preventive effect of probiotic treatment on ovx induced bone-loss. Mice were 14-weeks-old at the end of the study, when tissues were dissected and weighed. Trabecular bone parameters were analysed by high resolution μCT in the distal metaphyseal region of femur; Trabecular bone volume as a percentage of tissue volume (BV/TV); Trabecular bone mineral density (BMD); Trabecular thickness (Tb Th); Trabecular number (Tb N); Trabecular separation (Tb Sp). Cortical bone was measured by pQCT in the mid-diaphyseal region of femur; Cortical thickness (Crt Thk); Total cross-sectional area inside the periosteal envelope (Tt Ar). The resorption marker, C-terminal telopeptides and the formation marker, osteocalcin were measured in serum. Femur bone marrow cells were stained with antibodies recognizing CD4, Foxp3 and CD25. Values represent the percentage of Treg (CD4+ Foxp3+ CD25+) of gated lymphocytes. Results are given as mean±SEM, (n = 6–10). ** p≤0.01, * p≤0.05, Students t test ovx vs. sham. # p≤0.05, ANOVA followed by Dunnett's post hoc test within the groups, ovx L. Para and L. mix vs. ovx veh.