Research Paper Volume 7, Issue 3 pp 205—216

Figure 1. The osteogenic capacity of old mice is significantly reduced both in vivo and in vitro. Statistically analyzed values show the mean ± SD (n=10). * p < 0.05. (A) Micro-CT analysis of trabecular bone mass in the tibiae of 4 (young) and 16 month-old (old) mice. Quantitative analyses were performed via volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) measurements. (B) HE stainings of histological sections from femur derived from young and old mice for detection of the number of bone trabeculae. (C-D) Representative images of the CFU-F assay for determination of proliferation capacity and of the CFU-Ob assay for osteogenic differentiation ability of BMMSCs obtained from young and old mice and stained with crystal violet and alizarin red, respectively. CFU efficiency was determined by the number of colonies relative to the total number of seeded cells in each plate. (E) Serum levels of TNF-α and INF-γ in young and old mice determined via ELISA. Results are expressed as pg/ml.