Figure 4. LysM-Cre; p38α^f/f mice showed distinct alterations in bone resorption at 2.5 and 6 month of age.

(A) Two and half-month-old LysM-Cre; p38α^f/f mice showed a slight decrease in erosion surface, osteoclast surface, osteoclast number, and urine DPD levels compared to control mice. N = 8. (B) Six-month-old LysM-Cre; p38α^f/f mice showed an increase in erosion surface, osteoclast surface, osteoclast number, and urine DPD levels compared to control mice. N = 8. (C) In vivo TRAP staining showed that the femur bones of 2.5-month-old LysM-Cre; p38α^f/f mice exhibited a minor decrease in osteoclasts compared to control mice. Scale bar, 200 μm. N = 3. (D) In vivo TRAP staining showed that the femur bones of 6-month-old LysM-Cre; p38α^f/f mice exhibited an increase in osteoclasts compared to control mice. Scale bar, 50 μm. N = 3. For all results in Fig. 4, P-values are based on Student’s t-test. **p < 0.01 when the value of mutant mice or cells was compared to that of control mice.