Altered Trabecular Bone Structure and Delayed Cartilage Degeneration in the Knees of Collagen VI Null Mice
Figure 2
MicroCT measures of trabecular bone structure.
In the tibial epiphysis of collagen VI null mice (Col6a1−/−), the structure model index (SMI, A) shows evidence of rod-like trabeculae from the earliest age, in contrast to the initially plate-like trabeculae of the wild-type mice. The trabecular bone volume (BV, B) is low from an early age and contributes to a higher bone tissue density (BD, D) in 2-month-old Col6a1−/− mice. With increasing age, the Col6a1−/− connectivity density (ConnDens, C) drops significantly at 15 months. Bars are mean ± SEM. Starred bars with no connecting lines are different from all other bars including each other. Horizontal lines connect statistically significantly different values. *p<0.05; **p<0.01. WT = Col6a1+/+; KO = Col6a1−/−.