Negative Regulation of Bone Formation by the Transmembrane Wnt Antagonist Kremen-2
Figure 5
Decreased biomechanical stability of bones from Col1a1-Krm2 transgenic mice.
(A) µCT scanning of the vertebral bodies L6 from 24 weeks old female wildtype and Col1a1-Krm2 transgenic littermates (scale bars, 1 mm). (B) Microcompression testing revealed reduced biomechanical stability (Fmax, maximal force until bone failure). Bars represent mean ± SD (n = 6). Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences. (C) µCT scanning of the femora showing reduced cortical thickness and impaired mineralization (scale bars, 500 µm). (D) Cortical thickness (C.Th.) and bone mineral density (vBMD) are decreased in Col1a1-Krm2 transgenic mice compared to wildtype littermates. Bars represent mean ± SD (n = 6). Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences. (E) Three-point bending assays reveal reduced biomechanical competence of transgenic femora. Bars represent mean ± SD (n = 12). Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences. (F) Xray analysis of a 30 weeks old male Col1a1-Krm2 transgenic mouse with a spontaneous tibia fracture (arrow) compared to a non-transgenic littermate (scale bars, 2 mm).