Mandibular bone density and calcium content affected by different kind of stress in mice

Stress is considered to affect many body and mental functions. This leads to activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the adrenomedullary sympathetic system resulting to increased glucocorticoid release. Corticosteroids are known to cause systemic bone loss. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of different kinds of stress on the mandible bone mass of Wistar mice.

75 male Wistar mice were divided into three groups (n=25 each). The animals of group C were submitted to stress by electroshock with 22-45 volts for a duration of 4 seconds each minute for one hour each day. Group B was submitted to isolation stress and group A was the control group. The duration of the experiment was 137 days.

The adrenals weight was increased (group C vs group A, p<0.001; group B vs group A p<0.05), while urine hydroxyproline was reduced under stress. The calcium content of the mandible and the ratio between calcium content and mandible volume was decreased (p<0.05 for both groups).

Mandibular bone mass was affected by different kinds of stress and may represent a considerable parameter for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of bone mass deficiency.