Figure 3.

Chondrocyte-derived Ihh is required for the maintenance of a normal growth plate. (A,B) Longitudinal view of μCT images in distal femur from control and Gli1-CreER; Ihh^c/c (Ihh cKO). Control and Ihh cKO littermate mice were treated with tamoxifen at four weeks of age and analyzed after eight weeks to inactivate the Ihh gene. Note decreased trabecular mass and completely lacked growth plate in Ihh cKO mice (B). (C,D) Representative images of femur stained with hematoxylin and alcian blue. Alcian blue positive cartilage matrix in the distal femur is absent in Ihh cKO mice (D, arrowheads show). Scale bars indicate 1 mm (A,B) and 1.25 mm (C,D).