Figure 2. Deletion of Ctsk in osteocytes decreases perilacunar remodeling during lactation.

(A) Representative BSEM images (original magnification, ×500) of the femur diaphysis of virgin and lactating Ctsk^fl/fl and Ctsk^ocy mice (n = 5–7 per group). (B) Measurements of the single osteocyte lacunar area and perimeter in virgin and lactating Ctsk^fl/fl (black dots and squares, respectively) and Ctsk^ocy (red dots and squares, respectively) mice. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM (n = 5–7 per group). ^†P < 0.05 versus virgin Ctsk^fl/fl mice; ^‡P < 0.05 versus virgin Ctsk^ocy mice; and ^#P < 0.05 versus lactating Ctsk^fl/fl mice; 2-way ANOVA followed by Fisher’s PLSD. (C) Representative images of silver nitrate staining showing osteocyte canalicular networking in cortical bone from virgin and lactating Ctsk^fl/fl and Ctsk^ocy mice (n = 3 per group). Scale bars: 20 μm.