title: Global deletion of Panx3 produces multiple phenotypic effects in mouse humeri and femora.
abstract: Pannexins form single-membrane channels that allow passage of small molecules between the intracellular and extracellular compartments. Of the three pannexin family members, Pannexin3 (Panx3) is the least studied but is highly expressed in skeletal tissues and is thought to play a role in the regulation of chondrocyte and osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of our study is to closely examine the in vivo effects of Panx3 ablation on long bone morphology using micro-computed tomography. Using Panx3 knockout (KO) and wildtype (WT) adult mice, we measured and compared aspects of phenotypic shape, bone mineral density (BMD), cross-sectional geometric properties of right femora and humeri, and lean mass. We found that KO mice have absolutely and relatively shorter diaphyseal shafts compared with WT mice, and relatively larger areas of muscle attachment sites. No differences in BMD or lean mass were found between WT and KO mice. Interestingly, KO mice had more robust femora and humeri compared with WT mice when assessed in cross-section at the midshaft. Our results clearly show that Panx3 ablation produces phenotypic effects in mouse femora and humeri, and support the premise that Panx3 has a role in regulating long bone growth and development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Deidre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caskenette
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Penuela
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beier
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Dale W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Laird
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Willmore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D017630:Connexins / Q000172:deficiency*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006811:Humerus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; C528477:pannexin 3 protein, mouse
keywords: Pannexin3; bone mineral density; cross-sectional geometry; geometric morphometrics; long bones; mice