Fig. 1.

Effect of phosphorus-insufficient feed for maternal milk. A, Breeding plan. Eight-to twelve-week-old C57BL/6J mice were intercrossed, and then pups (first generation) were obtained. The first generation mice were fed the low-phosphorus diet (LPD) from 21 days old (the first day after weaning). Concomitantly, other mice were fed the normal phosphorus diet (NPD) as a control group. When the mice were 8 weeks old, they were intercrossed, and the pups were obtained (second generation). The pups were then fed with maternal milk from first generation mother mice fed the LPD. B, The volume of minerals in LPD or NPD. C, The concentration of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in maternal milk of mother mice fed the LPD (n = 3) or NPD (n = 3) at day 14 after parturition. Values are mean ± SE. D, Body weight of 13-day-old mice fed the LPD (n = 13) or NPD (n = 13). Values are mean ± SE. E, Articular bones of mice fed the LPD or NPD. The bones were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin & eosin. Left sets of panels, male mice. Right sets of panels, female mice. Lower sets of panels, the enlarged images of the boxes from the upper images. Arrows, cartilages. Scale bars, upper sets of panels, 500 μm. Lower sets of panels, 200 μm.