Acid-etched resin casting SEM (upper panels) and backscattered SEM (lower panels) images of osteocytes in four animal groups.

<p>(A). Representative SEM images showed well organized WT osteocytes which were generally straight and run perpendicular to the long axis of the osteocyte with numerous dendrites; (B). The <i>Dmp1^−/−</i> osteocyte appeared much larger in size, and the distribution of the osteocytes were less organized with a sharp reduction in the dendrite number; (C). The <i>kl/kl</i> osteocytes were less straight and more randomly oriented with moderate reduction in osteocyte dendrites; (D). The <i>Dmp1^−/−kl/kl</i> osteocytes, much larger in size, showed absence of dendrites with poor organization in their cell distributions.