Regionally specific compensation for bone loss in the tibial trabeculae of estrogen-deficient rats

Bone mineral density (BMD) and microstructural variations have been extensively investigated in recent years; however, the compensation for bone loss between different regions is still unclear.

To fully characterize regional variations in bone mineral density (BMD) as well as the microstructure and dynamic changes of rat tibial trabeculae that occur with bone loss associated with estrogen deficiency.

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX), sham-operated (sham), or left unoperated (baseline control). The left tibiae were harvested at baseline, and at postoperative weeks 3 and 15. High-resolution micro-computed tomography (microCT) was used to identify the densitometric and microstructural properties of trabeculae in the proximal ends of the rat tibia, specifically the epiphysis and metaphysis.

Volumetric BMDs at the organ (organ BMD) and tissue (tissue BMD) levels were significantly higher for trabeculae at the epiphysis than metaphysis. Moreover, trabeculae at the epiphysis were thicker, and fewer in number and connectivity than those at the metaphysis, which were more rod like. Trabeculae at the metaphysis were more susceptible to bone loss induced by estrogen deprivation than at the epiphysis, and the regions varied greatly in their adaptation to this loss. At the metaphysis, trabecular tissue BMD and thickness were unexpectedly higher at postoperative week 15 than week 3 or baseline. In contrast, at the epiphysis, tissue BMD did not change with time, but trabecular thickness significantly increased at week 15 compared to baseline and was also greater in OVX compared to sham rats.

Metaphyseal and epiphyseal trabeculae show regionally specific variations in BMD and microstructure. The former are more susceptible to bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and would be strengthened by either hypertrophy or hypermineralization, while epiphyseal trabeculae are mainly strengthened by thickening.