Fundectomy-evoked osteopenia in pigs is mediated by the gastric-hypothalamic-pituitary axis

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of gastric impairment in pigs on the axial and peripheral skeletal system properties and to test the hypothesis that fundectomy-evoked osteopenia is related to disturbed gastric-hypothalamic-pituitary axis function. Forty-day-old male piglets were subjected to experimental fundectomy (FX group, n = 6) to induce osteopenia, while sham operation was performed in the controls (SHO group, n = 6). At the age of 8 months, serum samples were collected, and the animals were sacrificed to obtain lumbar vertebrae (L1-L6) and right humerus for analysis. Using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) methods, bone mineral density and bone mineral content of the vertebrae and humerus were measured. The compression and three-point bending tests were applied to determine mechanical properties of lumbar vertebrae and humerus, respectively. Furthermore, geometric properties of humerus were assessed. Serum concentrations of ghrelin, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and selected macro- and microelements were also determined. Performed fundectomy decreased body weight in pigs by 66% compared with pair-fed sham operated pigs (P < 0.0001). Bone weight, bone mineral density, and bone mineral content of the lumbar vertebrae and humerus were significantly decreased in the fundectomized pigs (P < 0.01). Mechanical parameters of the lumbar spine and humerus were decreased after the fundectomy, as well. Serum concentrations of ghrelin, GH, and IGF-1 were lowered by 74.4%, 90.6%, and 54.6% in the fundectomized pigs, respectively (all P < 0.001). Moreover, the serum concentrations of calcium, magnesium, iron and copper in the fundectomized animals were significantly decreased by 15.5%, 45.3%, 26.7%, and 26.2%, respectively (P