Figure 8.

The effects of VnP-16 on bone resorbing activity in vitro and IL-1-induced bone destruction in vivo. (a and b) The effects of VnP-16 on the bone resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts. The assay conditions were the same as in Figure 6e, except that mature osteoclasts cultured for 12 h on Osteo Assay Surface plates were used (a). Bone resorption was assessed by pit area measurements (b). Scale bars, 200 μm. (c–e) The effects of VnP-16 on IL-1-induced bone destruction in vivo. A collagen sponge treated with vehicle (DMSO), IL-1 (2 μg), synthetic peptides (125 μg), or synthetic peptides (125 μg) plus IL-1 (2 μg) was implanted over the calvarial bone of 5-week-old ICR mice. TRAP staining and μCT imaging of whole calvariae were performed (c); the black spots indicate eroded surfaces. Bone mineral content (d) and BV/TV (e) were measured by quantitative bone morphometric analysis. (f–h) Histological sections of calvarial bones were stained with H&E (f, bottom) and histochemically for TRAP (f, top). The osteoclast number (g) and surface area (h) were determined by histomorphometric analysis. Oc.N, osteoclast number; Oc.S, osteoclast surface. Scale bars, 200 μm. Data in (b, d, e, g and h) represent the mean±SD (n=5 per group). *P<0.05, **P<0.01