Figure 4.
Kcnn4 Modulates Bone Homeostasis via Osteoclasts
(A) Genetic deletion of Kcnn4 increases bone mass as shown by X-ray analysis performed on femurs from 8-week-old Kcnn4+/+ and Kcnn4−/− female and male mice. Note the stronger radio-opacity in femurs from Kcnn4−/− mice when compared with Kcnn4+/+ mice.
(B) Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) analysis of femoral bones showing total bone density and trabecular bone density of distal femurs from 8-week-old Kcnn4−/− mice compared with Kcnn4+/+ mice (mean ± SD; n = 7–9).
(C) Representative images of microcomputed tomography (microCT) analysis of distal femurs (left panel) from 8-week-old female and male Kcnn4+/+ and Kcnn4−/− mice. Trabecular bone volume fraction from Kcnn4+/+ and Kcnn4−/− female and male mice is shown in the right panel (mean ± SD; n = 7–9).
(D) Histomorphometry analysis of tibiae from 8-week-old Kcnn4+/+ and Kcnn4−/− female and male mice showing the number of osteoclasts per trabecular bone perimeter (mean ± SD; n = 10).
(E) Microcomputed tomography analysis of calvaria from 8-week-old Kcnn4−/− and Kcnn4+/+ male and female mice that had received a 2 μl of injection of 25 μg LPS on the right calvaria. Mice were sacrificed 5 days later. Note the low abundance of resorption lacunae in Kcnn4−/− mice when compared with wild-type. Calvarial bone volume fraction, bone thickness and bone density were higher, whereas bone surface density was lower in Kcnn4−/− mice when compared with wild-type (right panel; mean ± SD; n = 5).