Estrogen treatment at pharmacologic doses increases osteoblast function independent of FSH.

<p><b>A)</b> Fluorescent micrographs of non-decalcified spine (top) and tibia sections (bottom) of <i>Fshb^+/+</i> and <i>Fshb^−/−</i> mice 4 weeks after sham operation (−E2) or implantation of an estrogen pellet (+E2). <b>B)</b> Quantification of number of osteoblasts per bone perimeter (N.Ob/BPm), bone formation rate per bone surface (BFR/BS) and mineral apposition rate (MAR) in <i>Fshb^+/+</i> and <i>Fshb^−/−</i> mice. <b>C)</b> Quantification of number of osteoclasts per bone perimeter (N.Oc/BPm) and serum levels of collagen degradation products (Crosslaps) in the same groups. All data represent mean ± SD from at least 5 mice per group. *p<0.05 versus untreated control of each genotype.