IL-7 neutralization in vivo prevents bone loss following ovx. (a) Mice were sham-operated (filled squares) or ovx-operated (open diamonds), with one additional ovx group receiving E2 replacement (open circles). Another group of ovx mice was injected intraperitoneally with 1 mg of anti–IL-7 neutralizing antibody three times per week (open squares), and one group of ovx mice received irrelevant isotype-matched (IgG2b) antibody (filled triangles). BMD (mg/cm²) was measured by DEXA at base line (0) and at 2 and 4 weeks after ovx. Data are shown as average ± SEM. *P ≤ 0.01 compared with sham-operated mice and ovx mice receiving E2 replacement; ⁺P ≤ 0.02 compared with ovx mice injected with anti–IL-7 antibody (ANOVA; n = 6 mice per group). (b) The urinary concentration of DPD was measured at 4 weeks after surgery by ELISA, and data were corrected for urinary excretion using creatinine. Data represent average percent change from sham-operated ± SEM. Samples were measured in triplicate. *P ≤ 0.05 compared with sham-operated mice (ANOVA; n = 6 mice per group). (c) Serum OCN was measured at sacrifice by RIA. Data represent average percent change from sham-operated ± SEM. Samples were measured in triplicate. *P ≤ 0.05 compared with sham-operated mice; ⁺P ≤ 0.05 compared with ovx-operated mice receiving irrelevant IgG2b antibody (ANOVA; n = 6 mice per group).