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Culturing and Measuring Fetal and Newborn Murine Long Bones
06:58

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Published on: April 26, 2019

Bone development in the fetus and neonate: role of the calciotropic hormones

Christopher S Kovacs1

  • 1Medicine (Endocrinology and Metabolism), Obstetrics & Gynecology, and BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Health Sciences Centre, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1B 3V6, Canada. ckovacs@mun.ca

Current Osteoporosis Reports
|September 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Fetal bone development relies on parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related protein, not vitamin D. Postnatal skeletal growth requires vitamin D, but high dietary calcium can substitute for it.

Area of Science:

  • Skeletal Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Mineral Metabolism

Background:

  • The skeleton forms from a cartilaginous scaffold, replaced by bone through endochondral ossification.
  • Mineral delivery is crucial for skeletal integrity throughout life.
  • Fetal mineral supply is placental; postnatal supply shifts to intestinal absorption.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the distinct mineral requirements for fetal versus postnatal skeletal development.
  • To investigate the roles of key hormones and nutrients in bone formation at different life stages.

Main Methods:

  • Review of animal and human data on skeletal development and mineral metabolism.
  • Analysis of hormonal and nutritional influences on endochondral ossification.

Main Results:

  • Fetal bone development requires parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related protein.
  • Vitamin D/calcitriol, calcitonin, and sex steroids are not essential for fetal skeletal development.
  • Postnatal skeletal development depends on vitamin D/calcitriol, but high dietary calcium can compensate.

Conclusions:

  • Hormonal and nutritional needs for skeletal development differ significantly between fetal and postnatal stages.
  • Vitamin D's role in bone health is critical postnatally but can be influenced by dietary calcium intake.

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