The μCT analyses of 4-, 12- and 24-week-old mice.

<p>Upper images in a–f were the μCT views of the whole mandibles, and the lower portions were the cross-section images. The normal mandibles showed even distribution of mineralized bone with smooth surfaces (upper images in a, b, c) whereas the <i>Fam20C</i>-deficient mandibles appeared porous around the molar roots (upper images in d, e, f). The porous appearance was due to the presence of excessive hypomineralized tissues or soft tissues in the alveolar bone of the cKO mice. The cross-section views showed that in all of the age groups, the alveolar bone in the furcation and interdental regions of the cKO mice (lower images in d, e, f) had significantly lower mineral density than the corresponding regions in the normal mice (lower images in a, b, c). Quantitative analysis showed that the cKO mice had significant reduction in the alveolar bone volume (g), apparent density (h) and material density (i) at 12 and 24 weeks. BV: bone volume; TV: total volume; *: P value <0.05; **: P value <0.01; ***: P value <0.001. Bar in all images equals 1.0 mm.