Skip to main content
. 2022 May 7;23(9):5225. doi: 10.3390/ijms23095225

Figure 5.

Figure 5

Silencing of Lmx1b promotes ectopic bone formation in vivo. Collagen sponges absorbed with control siRNA (si-Control) or siRNA specific for Lmx1b (si-Lmx1b) and BMP2 (1 µg) were subcutaneously implanted (n = 7 per group). (a,b) Ectopic bones were biopsied and subjected to micro computed tomography (µCT) and histology. (a) Representative 3D images of ectopic bone formation analyzed by µCT (upper panel). Hematoxylin and eosin staining of biopsied ectopic bones (lower panel). The arrow head indicates newly formed bones. Scale bars = 300 μm. (b) Bone volume per tissue volume (BV/TV) and bone volume (BV) of biopsied ectopic bones were assessed using µCT. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.001 vs. si-Control with BMP2. (c) Total RNA was isolated from ectopic bone specimens, and mRNA expression of Lmx1b, Ibsp, and Bglap was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR. Data represent the means ± SD of triplicate samples. * p < 0.05, # p < 0.005 vs. si-Control with BMP2. Results are representative of experiments that were independently repeated at least three times.