“…Most previous studies of hibernation-induced bone loss in small hibernating mammals, however, were largely or solely observational rather than quantitative (42,69,97,99,138,210), and thus, the conclusions that can be drawn from them are limited. For example, although osteocyte lacunar size has been reported to increase in bats, hamsters, and ground squirrels, only one study on hamsters has quantified lacunar area (172), whereas other studies reported histological images without quantitative measurements (42,69,97,99,197,210). Comparisons of hibernating to active counterparts are difficult to interpret as well.…”