Conditional deletion of Fpn in osteoclast precursor cells results in decreased bone mass and increased osteoclasts in female mice.
A and B, μCT images and analyses of the trabecular and cortical bone compartments of the left femurs of 2-month-old male and female control (con) and Fpn conditional deletion (cKO) mice (male control, n = 16, and cKO, n = 13; female control, n = 16, and cKO, n = 12). C, histomorphometry analyses of the paraffin-embedded TRAcP-stained tissue sections of the right femurs of control and cKO mice (male control, n = 11, and cKO, n = 11; female control, n = 13, and cKO, n = 12). The serum level of osteoclast-specific TRAcP-5b was measured by ELISA. BV/TV, percentage of trabecular bone volume to tissue volume; Tb. N, trabecular number; Tb. Th, trabecular thickness; Tb.Sp, trabecular separation; Cort. Th, cortical bone thickness of femur mid-shaft; OC.Pm, osteoclast perimeter. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001 versus control by Student's t test.