Analysis of biomechanical effects on bone and on the muscle-bone interactions in small animal models

Animal models are suitable to study many aspects of bone structure and strength. This article reviews some general principles of current bone biomechanics and describes the scope of the available methodology for biomechanical studies of the musculoskeletal system employing those models. The analysis comprises bone and muscle "mass" indicators provided by standard densitometry (DEXA); bone 'mass', 'apparent density', geometry or architectural design and strength and muscle strength indicators that can be determined by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), and bone material and structural (whole-bone) properties than can be directly assessed by destructive mechanical tests. Some novel interrelationships that can be investigated that way are discussed, namely, 1. the pathogenetic analysis of the effects on whole-bone strength, 2. the discrimination between mineralization and microstructural factors as determinants of changes in the bone material or structural properties, 3. the evaluation of the interaction of a treatment with the ability of bone 'mechanostat' to optimize the bone architectural design by 'distribution / mass' and 'distribution / quality' curves, and 4. the analysis of effects on the musclebone interactions for a differential diagnosis between 'physiological' or 'disuse' and 'true' osteopenias and osteoporoses.