Figure 4.

Gene expression in the vertebra of orx mice after treatment with L. Mix. Ten-week-old male mice were treated with either vehicle (veh) or a mixture of three lactobacilli (L. Mix) for 6 weeks, starting 2 weeks before orchiectomy (orx) or sham surgery. Real-time PCR analysis of gene expression known to affect bone turnover in the vertebra (L3 and L6): receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (Rankl, A), osteoprotegerin (Opg, B), interleukin 6 (Il-6, C), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (Trap, D), cathepsin K (Ctsk, E), tumor necrosis factor α (Tnfα, F), bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein (Bglap, G) and Collagen, type Iα1 (Col1α1, H). Symbols in the scatter plots represent individual mice and the bars indicate mean ± s.e.m. (n = 13–15). *P ≤ 0.05 vs the orx veh group. Between-group differences were calculated using Student’s t-test.