Bone Characterization of Dicer Deficient Transgenic Mice Under Dmp1 Promoter

Osteocytes are differentiated from osteoblasts and encased in mineralized bone matrix. Dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) is used as a marker and highly expressed in early-stage osteocytes. MicroRNA (miRNA) are small, single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules that function in RNA inactivation and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. To be fully functional, miRNAs are cleaved by the enzyme “Dicer”. This study aims to evaluate the femoral and calvarial bone phenotypes of transgenic mice that lack functional miRNAs in osteocytes. The calvarial bone of age and sex-matched Dicer-deficient mice under the Dmp1 promoter and their controls were characterized using microcomputed tomography, shape analysis and H&E histological sections. A total of 75 transgenic mice consisting of DicerKO, Dicer flox, and DMP1cre groups were studied. The animals were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks old. Loss of Dicer in early-stage osteocytes led to significant alterations in the femoral and calvarial phenotypes at both microscopic and macroscopic levels as decreased trabecular thickness, decreased trabecular bone mineral density, increased cortical bone thickness and increased cortical bone porosity in femurs and increased bone volume fraction in calvaria. These phenotypic alterations appear to change certain dimensions of calvaria shape and femoral presentation.

Author dc:creator

• Zainah Shaker (24399440)

• Bone Biology
• Transgenic Mouse

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.25417/uic.32993870.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/32993870