Fig 3.

Early‐life–increased physical activity (PA) via access to voluntary running wheel increases bone formation and resorption, as well as inflammation. (A–D) Real‐time PCR for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC), Runx2, and β‐catenin mRNA expression in total RNA isolated from spine L3 vertebrae of either control or PA groups. (E–H) Real‐time PCR for matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), nuclear factor of activated T‐cells 1 (NFATc1), nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB), and cathepsin K mRNA expression in total RNA isolated from spine L3 vertebrae of either control or PA groups. Relative mRNA expression was normalized by GAPDH expression, and row data were presented without removing outliers. *p < 0.05 by t test between control and PA group. (I) Antibody array analysis showing increased inflammatory factor expression in PA groups in total proteins isolated from spine L3 vertebrae compared with those from control, the heat map analysis for comparison of all factors. p Value was by t test between control and PA groups.