C57BL/6J (B6), but not C3H/HeJ (C3H), mice responded to mechanical loading with an increase in bone formation. A 30-min steady fluid shear of 20 dynes/cm 2 increased [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation and alkaline phosphatase activity and up-regulated the expression of early mechanoresponsive genes (integrin 1 (Igtb1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2)) in B6 but not C3H osteoblasts, indicating that the differential mechanosensitivity was intrinsic to osteoblasts. In-house microarray analysis with 5,500 gene fragments revealed that the expression of 669 genes in B6 osteoblasts and 474 genes in C3H osteoblasts was altered 4 h after the fluid shear. Several genes associated with the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, the estrogen receptor (ER), the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/transforming growth factor-, and Wnt pathways were differentially up-regulated in B6 osteoblasts. In vitro mechanical loading also led to up-regulation of these genes in the bones of B6 but not C3H mice. Pretreatment of B6 osteoblasts with inhibitors of the Wnt pathway (endostatin), the BMP pathway (Noggin), or the ER pathway (ICI182780) blocked the fluid shear-induced proliferation. Inhibition of integrin and Cox-2 activation by echistatin and indomethacin, respectively, each blocked the fluid shear-induced up-regulation of genes associated with these four pathways. In summary, up-regulation of the IGF-I, ER, BMP, and Wnt pathways is involved in mechanotransduction. These four pathways are downstream to the early mechanoresponsive genes, i.e. Igtb1 and Cox-2. In conclusion, differential up-regulation of these anabolic pathways may in part contribute to the good and poor response, respectively, in the B6 and C3H mice to mechanical loading.Mechanical loading is essential for maintenance of skeletal architectural integrity. Loading stimulates bone formation and suppresses bone resorption, leading to an overall increase in bone mass (1), whereas unloading results in an overall decrease in bone mass, because of an inhibition of formation along with an increase in resorption (2). Loading produces strains in the mineralized matrix of bone, which generates interstitial fluid flow through lacunar/canalicular spaces (3). This fluid flow exerts a shear stress at surfaces of osteoblasts and osteocytes lining these spaces, which generates biochemical signals to produce biological effects. Multiple interacting signaling pathways are involved in translating the fluid shear signals into biological effects in bone cells (4), and these pathways are collectively referred to as the mechanotransduction mechanism. Mechanical loading is a key regulatory process for bone mass and strength (5). Knowledge of the mechanotransduction mechanism would not only yield information about the mechanical stimulation of bone formation but would also provide insights into the pathophysiology of osteoporosis and other bone-wasting diseases.There is increasing evidence that genetics play a major part in determining the bone response to mechanical loading. Studies from our group (6, 7...