Skip to main content
Fig. 2 | Breast Cancer Research

Fig. 2

From: Zoledronic acid alters hematopoiesis and generates breast tumor-suppressive bone marrow cells

Fig. 2

Effects of zoledronic acid (ZOL) on osteoclasts, osteoblasts and bone structure. a Relative osteoclast activity in nude mice determined by N-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX) plasma levels at indicated time points after ZOL treatment (n = 4–5 per group); day (d) 3 ****p < 0.0001, **d5 p = 0.0005, d10 p > 0.999. b Osteoclast number/mm trabecular bone surface (n = 4 per group); ****p < 0.0001. c Representative sections of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-stained tibiae, with an H&E counterstain, 3 days after ZOL or control (Ctl) treatment in nude mice. Osteoclasts stain bright pink and are indicated by asterisks, Tb trabecular bone, scale bar 100 μm. d Relative osteoblast activity as measured by plasma procollagen I N-terminal propeptide (PINP) at indicated time points after ZOL treatment (n = 4–5/group); d3 ****p < 0.0001, d5 ****p < 0.0001, d10 p = 0.4. e Osteoblast number/mm trabecular bone surface (n = 4/group); **p = 0.007. f Representative H&E-stained section of tibiae from Ctl and ZOL-treated mice; arrows indicate osteoblasts, Tb trabecular bone, Bm bone marrow, scale bar 100 μm. Trabecular bone volume (bone volume/tissue volume, BV/TV in %) (g) and trabecular number (Tb.N. in mm-1) (h) of nude mouse femora 3 days after treatment (n = 3 for Ctl, n = 4 for ZOL). i Representative micro-computed CT cross-sections of right femora from Ctl or ZOL treated mice 3 days after treatment. k Average area (mm2) occupied by extracellular matrix in the metaphysis of nude mice at indicated time points after treatment (n = 3–4 mice/group); d3 *p = 0.02, d8 **p = 0.001. j Toluidine blue-stained sections of tibiae of nude mice 3 or 8 days after treatment with Ctl or one 100-ug/kg dose of ZOL. Dark purple stain shows bone proteoglycan (mastocytes, cartilage), light blue stain shows cell nuclei and calcified bone. Scale bar 100 μm

Back to article page