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X-ray and Bone Densitometry (DXA) Analyses

  • Equipment:
    Faxitron UltrafocusDXA equipped with 10 x 15 cm CMOS detector (Faxitron Bioptics, LLC, Tucson, AZ, USA). Automated calibration and exposure control. Quality control by use of two phantoms: one for bone mineral content (BMC) and another for total weight/fat percent.
  • Parameters:
    X-ray analyses: skull shape, orbit, mandible, maxilla, teeth, vertebrae (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, caudal), scapulas, clavicle, humerus, ulna, radius, ribs, pelvis, femur, tibia, fibula, digits, joints. DXA analyses: bone area, bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD) and vBMD from the whole mouse and from a region of interest (lumbar vertebrae).

Micro Computed Tomography (µCT)

  • Equipment:
    • SkyScan1176 in vivo micro-CT (Bruker microCT N.V., Belgium): high-resolution X-ray scanner for in vivo 3D-reconstruction with details detectability down to 9 microns.
    • SkyScan1172 in vitro micro-CT (Bruker microCT N.V., Belgium): high-resolution X-ray scanner with 11 Megapixel X-ray camera for in vitro 3D-reconstruction with details detectability down to 0.7 µm.
    • 3D Suite software, NRECON (Bruker microCT N.V., Belgium).
  • Parameters:
    Bone volume, bone volume fraction, bone surface, trabecular thickness, trabecular separation, trabecular number, trabecular pattern factor, cortical bone area, cortical thickness, cortical periosteal and endosteal perimeter, bone porosity, etc.
Source: GMC

Markers of Bone Formation and Resorption

  • Equipment:
    Tecan Infinite 200 (Tecan Deutschland GmbH, Crailsheim, Germany).
     
  • Parameters:
    Measurement of markers of bone formation (e.g., osteocalcin, P1NP) or resorption (e.g., CTX-1, RANKL, TRAP5b) by ELISA (upon request).
     

Mechanical Bending: Three-Point Bend Test (long-term availability)

  • Equipment:
    Servo-hydraulic test machine from Instron Model 3342
     
  • Parameters:
    Measurement of the elastic-plastic bone material properties and fracture parameters.

Skeleton Preparation

  • Equipment:
    Staining with alcian blue (cartilage) and alizarin red (bone)
     
  • Parameters:
    Enables the observation of the endochondral ossification process in order to assess any cartilage or bone malformations.