Fig 6. Bone geometry and mechanical performance is altered in the absence of ANK activity.

microCT was used to determine (A) bone area, (B) cortical thickness, (C) tissue mineral density (TMD), (D) bone area fraction (B.Ar/T.Ar), (E) bone perimeter, and (F) eccentricity in femora of wild type (Ank^wt/wt, n = 9), heterozygous (Ank^wt/ank, n = 10) and Ank^ank/ank (n = 8) mice. (G) To compare whole bone bending strength, a linear regression between section modulus and ultimate bending moment was analyzed for each genotype (r² = 0.84 Ank^wt/wt, 0.73 Ank^wt/ank, 0.67 Ank^ank/ank). The slope was not different between genotypes, but the intercept was significantly different in femora from Ank^ank/ank mice, which utilized an increased section modulus to achieve the corresponding ultimate moment. The measurements presented in panels A-F, were obtained at the femoral midshaft, using an ROI of 1 mm. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA with * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.