X-ray absorptiometry evaluation of mice

Dual X-ray absorptiometry evaluation of bone mineral density and body composition in same mice with valve disease. The yellow outlined area depicts bone/calcified tissue. Quantitation of bone mineral density in the femur of these mice showed that bone mineral density decreased from 81.2 mcg/cm2 in the wild-type mouse to 71.7 mcg/cm2 in the mouse deficient in mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes. These preliminary data suggest that antioxidant therapies targeted to the mitochondria may be an effective means to reduce valvular and vascular calcification while reducing age-related bone loss.