Figure 3. Deletion of Ctsk in osteocytes preserves cortical and cancellous bone during lactation.

(A) Representative x-ray and μCT images of virgin and lactating Ctsk^fl/fl and Ctsk^ocy femurs (n = 7–9 per group). Scale bars: 100 μm. (B) μCT analysis of cortical bone at the femoral midshaft of virgin and lactating Ctsk^fl/fl mice (black dots and squares, respectively) and Ctsk^ocy mice (red dots and squares, respectively) (n = 7–9 per group). (C) μCT analysis of trabecular bone at the distal femur of virgin and lactating Ctsk^fl/fl (black dots and squares, respectively) and Ctsk^ocy (red dots and squares, respectively) mice (n = 7–9 per group). Results represent the mean ± SEM. ^†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 test.