Figure 6. Deletion of Ctsk in osteocytes affects the expression of genes involved in bone remodeling.

(A) qRT-PCR analysis of mRNA expression in BM-depleted tibiae and femurs from virgin and lactating Ctsk^fl/fl (black dots and squares, respectively) and Ctsk^ocy (red dots and squares, respectively) mice (n = 5–9 per group). Numbers in parentheses are the Ct values for the highest level of expression of each gene. (B–D). Representative images of sclerostin (B), Ctsk immunostaining (C), and TRAP staining (D) in osteocytes from virgin and lactating Ctsk^fl/fl and Ctsk^ocy mice (n = 4–7 per group). Scale bars: 20 μm. (E) Quantification of TRAP staining (n = 4 to 5 per group). Data are expressed as 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.