Loss of TGR5 alters the BM microenvironment
A, representative native µCT-derived 3D reconstructions of the cortical bone in the mid-femoral diaphysis of 8-12-week-old Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/− male mice. B, µCT-derived bone morphometry measurements of the cortical bone in the mid-femoral diaphysis of 8-12-week-old Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/− male mice (n=17 for both Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/− mice); shown are the total cross-sectional area inside the periosteal envelope (Tt.Ar), cortical bone area (Ct.Ar), cortical area fraction (Ct.Ar/Tt.Ar) and average cortical thickness (Ct. Th). C, representative native µCT-derived 3D reconstructions of the trabecular structures in the fourth lumbar vertebrae (L4) of 8-12-week-old Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/− male mice. D, µCT-derived bone morphometry measurements of the trabecular structures in L4 of 8-12-week-old Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/− male mice (n=17 for both Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/− mice); shown are bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb. Th), trabecular separation (Tb. Sp) and trabecular number (Tb. N). E, representative images obtained from contrast-enhanced µCT scanning of decalcified OsO4-stained spines depicting lipid content in the red-to-yellow marrow transition in the caudal spine (CA) of 12-week-old male Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/− mice. F, sagittal view of a representative µCT-derived 3D reconstructions of OsO4-stained BMAT in the second caudal vertebrae (CA2) of 12-week-old Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/−male mice fed chow diet. G, quantification of the OsO4-stained BMAT for the first to third caudal vertebra (CA1-CA3) in the caudal red-to-yellow transition in chow diet-fed, 12-week-old Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/− male mice (n=3 for both Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/− mice). Results represent the mean ± s.e.m., n represents biologically independent replicates. H, representative hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) histological sections of CA1-CA3 from a cohort independent from the animals shown in E (n=4 for both Tgr5+/+ and Tgr5−/− mice). Scale bar in E and H = 500 µm. Results represent the mean ± s.e.m., n represents biologically independent replicates. Two-tailed Student’s t-test (B, D, G) was used for statistical analysis. P values (exact value) are indicated, ns indicates no statistical significance.