• at E17.5, mice exhibit reductions of the half tibia length (17.2% reduction), the distance between the growth plate and the middle of diaphysis (43.2% reduction), the length of the bone marrow zone (45% reduction) and the length of the hypertrophic zone (15% reduction) compared to wild-type mice
• at E17.5, the resting zone is increased in length by 10% compared to wild-type mice
• the growth plate is severely disorganized with large and round-shaped chondrocytes failing to glide over each other and form columns as in wild-type mice
• at 6 weeks of age, growth plates are completely disorganized and broadened
• however, the length of the proliferative zone and the total growth plate height are normal