Fig. 1
Comparison of skeletal metastases by human prostate cancer cells in young and mature male mice. A single-cell suspension of 1 × 105 DiD labelled PC3-NW1 cells/100 μL PBS was injected into the left cardiac ventricle of 6-week old (Young) or 16-week old (Mature) male BALB/c nude mice. a Tumour growth was monitored by in vivo imaging. Skeletal tumours (red circled) were identified and confirmed by further anatomical examination post mortem up to 8 weeks post injection. b The number of skeletal tumours per mouse, c the number of non-skeletal tumour per mouse (skeletal muscle, liver, adrenal glands, but not peri- or intra-cardial tumours), and d the total tumour burden measured by radiance of luminescence were also compared between young and mature mice, n = 12. e A 3D bone models created using the micro-CT scan on tumour bearing femurs in young mice shows the bone lesions caused by these tumours. f To measure the bone destruction in trabecular compartment, trabecular bone content (BV/TV) were then quantified and compared between tumour bearing and non-tumour bearing legs of young mice, n > 8. (** P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001, t-test)