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Intrauterine programming of bone. Part 2: alteration of skeletal structure

S A Lanham1, C Roberts, M J Perry

  • 1Bone and Joint Research Group, Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. S.A.Lanham@soton.ac.uk.

Osteoporosis International : a Journal Established As Result of Cooperation Between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA
|August 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Maternal protein restriction during pregnancy programs offspring bone density and structure, leading to site-specific bone weakness and strength in later life. This highlights the critical role of in utero nutrition in skeletal development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Skeletal Biology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Epidemiological studies suggest skeletal development is programmed during intrauterine and early postnatal life.
  • Bone mass loss with age may have fetal origins.
  • Maternal protein insufficiency during pregnancy is investigated as a factor in programming skeletal health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that age-related decrease in bone mass has a fetal origin.
  • To examine the long-term skeletal consequences of maternal protein restriction during pregnancy in offspring.
  • To understand the role of the intrauterine nutritional environment in programming skeletal development.

Main Methods:

  • Rat dams were fed either an 18% (control) or 9% (low protein) diet during pregnancy.
  • Offspring were studied at various time points from 4 to 75 weeks of age.
  • Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and mechanical testing were used to assess bone structure, density, and strength.

Main Results:

  • At 75 weeks, female offspring of protein-restricted mothers showed thinner, less dense trabeculae in femoral heads and denser trabeculae in vertebrae.
  • Femoral necks had closer-packed trabeculae, and tibial midshafts exhibited denser cortical bone.
  • Mechanical testing revealed weaker femoral heads and tibiae, but stronger femoral necks and vertebrae in offspring from the low-protein group.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal protein restriction during pregnancy significantly alters offspring bone structure, density, and mechanical properties at various skeletal sites.
  • These alterations indicate significantly modified bone turnover, supporting the programming of skeletal development by the early nutritional environment.
  • Understanding intrauterine nutrition's role is crucial for addressing skeletal health consequences later in life.
Abstract

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