Confirmation of miRNA expression by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). qRT-PCR validation of the differentially expressed miRNAs identified from microarray data was performed using plasma from the rats with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) and the healthy control rats. MiR-101a-3p, miR-374-3p, miR-106b-5p, miR-19b-3p, miR-18a-5p, miR-365-3p, miR-93-5p, miR-29a-3p, and miR-486 were downregulated in the PMOP group. P values were calculated using an unpaired t-test and are indicated on each plot. Data are presented as “-delta CT” using box plots.