[Effects of ovariectomy and estradiol on microarchitecture and biomechanical properties in rat vertebrae]

This study was aimed at observing the effects of ovariectomy and estradiol on the microarchitecture of cancellous bone and exploring the influence of microarchitectural change on the biomechanical properties. Thirty 6-month-old unmated female SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (10 rat each): sham-operated control group (Sham), ovariectomized group (OVX)and Estradiol Benzoate treated group (EBT). All rats were housed in standard environmental conditions. Five months after operation, the rats were sacrificed. The biomechanical properties of the third lumbar vertebras (L3) were measured with compression testing in vitro. Micro-CT scanning was performed on the fourth lumbar vertebras (L4) in vitro. In comparison with the corresponding variables of Sham, the bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and the trabecular number (Tb. N) of OVX were reduced remarkably, and the trabecular separation (Tb. Sp) and the structural model index (SMI) of OVX were enhanced obviously. These facts implicated that the bone trabecular plate-like structure of OVX were decreased. BV/TV, Tb. N and the trabecular thickness (Tb. Th) of EBT were greater than those of OVX. Tb. Sp and SMI of EBT were much smaller than those of OVX. The results of mechanical test showed that the maximum forioe (Fmax), the maximum stress (sigmamax) and the elastic modeulus (E) of the lumbar vertebral cancellous bone of OVX were declined sharply, while the aforesaid biomechanical index of EBT was improved distinctly. The performance of three-dimensional micro-CT and the mechanical testing to assess microarchitecture of cancellous bone are useful for evaluating the state of osteoporosis and the antiosteoporotic effect of agents.