Pinealectomy affects bone mineral density and structure - an experimental study in sheep

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Research Article

Erich Schneider¹  Mauro Alini¹  Christian Gerhardt¹  Georges J Maestroni²  Marcus Egermann³  Alain Barth⁴ 

[1] AO Research Institute, Davos, Switzerland;Center for Experimental Pathology, Locarno, Switzerland;Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany;Department of Neurosurgery, University of Berne, Switzerland;

关键词: Bone Mineral Density;    Osteoporosis;    Melatonin;    Bone Loss;    Distal Radius;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2474-12-271

 received in 2011-08-08, accepted in 2011-11-24,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundOsteoporosis and associated fractures are a major public health burden and there is great need for a large animal model. Melatonin, the hormone of the pineal gland, has been shown to influence bone metabolism. This study aims to evaluate whether absence of melatonin due to pinealectomy affects the bone mass, structure and remodeling in an ovine animal model.MethodsFemale sheep were arranged into four groups: Control, surgically ovariectomized (Ovx), surgically pinealectomized (Px) and Ovx+Px. Before and 6 months after surgery, iliac crest biopsies were harvested and structural parameters were measured using μCT. Markers of bone formation and resorption were determined. To evaluate long term changes after pinealectomy, bone mineral density (BMD) was analyzed at the distal radius at 0, 3, 9, 18 and 30 months.ResultsCancellous bone volume (BV/TV) declined after 6 months by -13.3% Px and -21.5% OvxPx. The bone loss was due to increased trabecular separation as well as decreased thickness. The histomorphometric quantification and determination of collagen degradation products showed increased bone resorption following pinealectomy. Ovariectomy alone results in a transient bone loss at the distal radius followed by continuous increase to baseline levels. The bone resorption activity after pinealectomy causes a bone loss which was not transient, since a continuous decrease in BMD was observed until 30 months.ConclusionsThe changes after pinealectomy in sheep are indicative of bone loss. Overall, these findings suggest that the pineal gland may influence bone metabolism and that pinealectomy can be used to induce bone loss in sheep.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Egermann et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011