Bone quality evaluation of experimental osteometabolic disease in Pantanal alligators (Caiman yacare) by High Resolution Computerized Microtomography (µCT) / Avaliação da qualidade óssea de doença osteometabólica experimental em jacarés do pantanal (Caiman yacare) por Microtomografia Computadorizada (µCT)

Computerized microtomography is the gold standard examination for the evaluation of the three-dimensional bone structure. This experiment was developed to evaluate the structure and bone quality of Caiman yacare with metabolic bone disease using high resolution computerized microtomography (μCT). The animals were distributed into four groups: G1 - hyperphosphatemic diet with sun exposure deprivation (n=4), G2 - hyperphosphatemic diet with sun exposure (n=4), G3 - balanced diet with sun exposure deprivation (n=4), and G4 - balanced diet with exposure to sunlight (n=4). The parameters for the trabecular bone (Trabecular Number, Trabecular Thickness, Trabecular Separation, Bone Pattern Factor, Fractal Dimension, Euler Number, Structural Model Index, Degree of Anisotropy, Eigenvalues 1, 2 and 3, and Centroides X, Y and Z), and cortical bone (Number of Closed Pores, Volume of Closed Pores, Surface of Closed Pores, Closed Porosity, Volume of Open Pores, Open Porosity and Total Porosity). The overall results showed that the structure and bone quality of group G3 and G4 were better than those of groups G1 and G2, and that the diet factor influenced more than the sun exposure factor. The computerized microtomography allowed to evaluate the quality of the cortical and trabecular bones of the Pantanal alligator tibia with osteometabolic disease. The diet and sun exposure factors influenced individually the results of the μCT parameters between the groups, demonstrating the functional and structural complexity. Thus, these parameters can contribute to the interpretation of the mechanical behavior of bones and correlate them with the risk of lesions and fractures associated with osteometabolic diseases.(AU)

Microtomografia computadorizada é o exame padrão-ouro para a avaliação da estrutura tridimensional do osso. Este estudo experimental foi desenvolvido para avaliar a estrutura e a qualidade óssea de jacarés-do-pantanal (Caiman yacare) com doença óssea metabólica utilizando a microtomografia computadorizada (μCT) de Alta Resolução. Os animais foram distribuídos em quatro grupos, G1 - dieta hiperfosfatêmica com privação de luz solar (n=4), G2 - dieta hiperfosfatêmica com exposição à luz solar (n=4), G3 - dieta balanceada com privação de luz solar (n=4) e G4 - dieta balanceada com exposição à luz solar (n=4). Avaliaram-se os parâmetros para o osso trabecular (Número de Trabéculas, Espessura Trabecular, Separação Trabecular, Fator do Padrão Ósseo, Dimensão Fractal, Número de Euler, Índice do Modelo Estrutural, Grau de Anisotropia, Autovalores 1, 2 e 3 e Centroides X, Y e Z) e osso cortical (Número de Poros Fechados, Volume dos Poros Fechados, Superfície de Poros Fechados, Porosidade Fechada, Volume de Poros Abertos, Porosidade Aberta e Porosidade Total). Os resultados gerais evidenciaram que a estrutura e a qualidade óssea dos grupos G3 e G4 foram superiores aos dos grupos G1 e G2, sendo que o fator dieta influenciou mais do que o fator exposição solar. A Microtomografia Computadorizada permitiu avaliar a qualidade dos ossos cortical e trabecular da tíbia de jacarés do pantanal com doença osteometabólica. Os fatores dieta e exposição solar influenciaram individualmente no resultado dos parâmetros do μCT entre os grupos, demonstrando a complexidade funcional e estrutural. Assim, esses parâmetros podem contribuir na interpretação do comportamento mecânico dos ossos e correlacioná-los com o risco de lesões e fraturas associadas às doenças osteometabólicas.(AU)

The relationship between microstructure of vertebral cancellous bone and fixation strength of pedicle screws / 医用生物力学

Objective By measuring the microstructure parameters of cancellous bone in vertebral bodies with different bone mineral density (BMD) levels, to study the correlation between such parameters and the corresponding maximum pullout strength (MPS) when fixed by pedicle screws, so as to understand if the microstructure parameters are related with screw stability and further to reveal the cause of screw loosening. Methods Based on the BMD detection results, fresh human cadaver spines were stratified into four levels: normal, osteopenia, osteoporosis and severe osteoporosis, according to diagnosis criteria in clinic. The corresponding vertebral specimens were then instrumented with pedicle screws, and screw pullout tests were conducted to measure the MPS of such screws. All the vertebral specimens were collected subsequently, and the cancellous bone cylinders were drilled from the center of each vertebra for micro CT scanning. Microstructure parameters of the vertebral trabecular bone at different BMD levels were obtained to investigate the interrelationships in between, and the relationships between the microstruture parameters and corresponding MPS of pedicle screws with osteoporosis severity were then compared. Results With the decline of BMD from normal to severe osteoporosis level, the corresponding MPS of pedicle screws was significantly declined. With the severity of osteoporosis increasing, the progressive bone volume loss, mechanical incompetence and microstructure deterioration also appeared evidently. Significant differences were found in microstructure parameters at different BMD levels. Strong correlations were extensively observed among BMD, microstructure parameters and MPS of screws. The MPS of pedicle screws was highly correlated with bone volume over total volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) from micro-CT scanning. Conclusions Significant deterioration would occur in bone tissues with the decline of BMD level, and the MPS of pedicle screws was highly correlated with some microstructure parameters.

Efectos "in vivo" de Metformina sobre las alteraciones de la microarquitectura sea asociadas al Sndrome Metablico inducido por fructosa en ratas / In vivo effects of Metformin on the alterations of bone micro-architecture associated with fructose-induced Metabolic Syndrome in rats

El Sndrome Metablico (SM) se ha asociado recientemente con una disminucin en la densidad mineral sea, y con un aumento en la incidencia de fracturas osteoporticas. Recientemente encontramos que la Metformina por va oral en ratas, promueve la diferenciacin osteognica de clulas progenitoras de mdula sea e incrementa la reparacin de lesiones seas. En este trabajo evaluamos los efectos del SM inducido por Fructosa sobre la microarquitectura sea en ratas, y la modulacin de estos efectos por Metformina administrada en forma oral. Utilizamos ratas Sprague Dawley macho jvenes: C (control sin tratamiento), C+M (100mg/kg/da Metformina en el agua de bebida), F (10 % Fructosa en el agua de bebida) y F+M (Fructosa+Metformina en el agua de bebida). Los tratamientos se continuaron por 3 semanas luego de lo cual se tomaron muestras de sangre, previas al sacrificio de los animales. Se disecaron los fmures para evaluacin histomorfomtrica de la microarquitectura metafisaria por tincin con Hematoxilina-Eosina (H-E). Se observ un incremento en la glucemia y trigliceridemia en el grupo F versus el C, compatible con el desarrollo de SM. El anlisis de las metfisis femorales mostr un aumento en la densidad osteoctica trabecular para el grupo C+M (118 % del control, p<0,05). El tratamiento con Fructosa sola disminuy la densidad osteoctica (79 % del control, p<0,05), mientras que el co-tratamiento Fructosa+Metformina (grupo F+M) revirti parcialmente este descenso (88 % del control). Similarmente, el porcentaje de hueso trabecular en la metfisis femoral aument luego del tratamiento slo con Metformina (129 % respecto del control), se redujo en las ratas tratadas con Fructosa (89 % respecto del control), y fue intermedia en el grupo F+M (94 % respecto del control). Estos resultados muestran que el SM inducido por Fructosa en ratas altera la microarquitectura metafisaria femoral; y que estos efectos deletreos pueden ser parcialmente prevenidos por un tratamiento oral con Metformina.

Several clinical studies have demonstrated that the Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is associated with a decrease in bone mineral density, and with an increased risk for non-vertebral osteoporotic fractures. We have recently found that orally administered Metformin induces osteogenic effects in rats, promoting osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow progenitor cells and increasing the repair of bone lesions. In the present work we have evaluated the effects of Fructose-induced MS on bone micro-architecture in rats, and the possible modulation of these effects by orally administered Metformin. We utilized young male Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into four groups: C (non-treated controls); C+M (100 mg/kg/day of Metformin in drinking water); F (10 % of Fructose in drinking water); and F+M (Fructose+Metformin in drinking water). After three weeks of all treatments blood samples were taken, after which animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation under anaesthesia. Femurs were then dissected for evaluation of metaphyseal micro-architecture after Haematoxilin-Eosin staining of 5 μm histological slices of decalcified bone. In particular, osteocytic density and relative trabecular volume were determined. An increase in serum glucose and triglycerides was observed in Fructose-treated rats, in accordance with the development of MS. In rats treated with Metformin alone (group C+M), the analysis of femoral metaphyses showed an increase in trabecular osteocytic density (118 % of control [group C], p<0.05). Treatment with Fructose alone (group F) significantly decreased ostecytic density (79 % of control, p<0.05), while co-treatment with Fructose and Metformin partially reverted this decrease (group F+M, 88 % of control). Similarly, the relative trabecular volume of femoral metaphysic was increased by treatment with Metformin alone (129% of control), was reduced in Fructose-treated rats (89 % of control), and tended to revert back to control values after Fructose-Metformin co-treatment (94 % of control). These results show for the first time that (a) Fructose-induced MS in rats alters their femoral metaphysis micro-architecture; and that (b) these deleterious effects can be partially prevented by orally administered Metformin.