ABSTRACT
Ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys have previously been investigated as a nonhuman primate model of postmenopausal osteoporosis (Jerome et al., Bone Miner 9:527-540; 1994). In the present study, Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM) was used to verify that differences in bone mineral quality and quantity in the vertebrae of mature intact (INT) and ovariectomized (ovx) monkeys were analogous to those seen in osteoporotic and nondiseased human bones. FTIRM spectra were acquired from 15 trabeculae per vertebra from three ovx and three INT adult monkeys (mean age 8 years). These spectra were compared with those of both trabecular and previously reported osteonal bone obtained from 3 "normal" and 11 postmenopausal osteoporotic human subjects. While variations in the mineral:matrix ratio (mineral content), carbonate:phosphate ratio, and crystallinity are typical for trabecular bone from iliac crests of normal human subjects, the values of these parameters were relatively static for trabecular bone from postmenopausal osteoporotic human subjects. In general, trabecular bone from postmenopausal osteoporotic human subjects exhibited decreased mineral content (1.0 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.6), increased crystallinity, and increased carbonate:phosphate relative to controls. Similarly, trabecular bone from ovariectomized monkeys exhibited lower mineral content (5.8 +/- 0.2) compared with the INT group (6.2 +/- 0.2; p
