Effects of Panx3 deletion on expression of hypertrophic chondrocyte genes in the IVD. qPCR analysis of Mmp13, Runx2 and Col10a1 gene expression in thoracic IVDs isolated from 6, 12, 19 or 24-month-old WT and Panx3-/- mice. Gene expression was determined by relative quantification with values normalized to that of the Rps29 housekeeper and expressed relative to age-matched WT controls. Data are presented as mean ± 95% CI (* indicates p < 0.05, Welch’s t-test; n = 4–8 mice per group, 6–8 IVDs pooled per mouse). Values corresponding to each experimental animal are indicated by individual data points on bar graphs.