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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Establishment and Evaluation of a Sheep Model of Full-thickness Osteochondral Defect

Establishment and Evaluation of a Sheep Model of Full-thickness Osteochondral Defect

Published on: April 14, 2026

Pinealectomy affects bone mineral density and structure--an experimental study in sheep.

Marcus Egermann¹, Christian Gerhardt, Alain Barth

¹Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany. marcus.egermann@med.uni-heidelberg.de

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

|November 26, 2011

Summary

Pinealectomy in sheep, the surgical removal of the pineal gland, leads to significant bone loss by increasing bone resorption. This ovine model demonstrates the pineal gland's role in maintaining bone health.

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Area of Science:

Bone Metabolism and Endocrinology
Large Animal Models for Osteoporosis Research

Background:

Osteoporosis and fractures pose a significant public health challenge.
A large animal model is needed to study osteoporosis.
Melatonin, a pineal gland hormone, influences bone metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effect of pinealectomy on bone mass, structure, and remodeling in an ovine model.
To determine if the absence of melatonin impacts bone metabolism.

Main Methods:

Female sheep were divided into four groups: Control, ovariectomized (Ovx), pinealectomized (Px), and Ovx+Px.
Iliac crest biopsies were analyzed for structural parameters using micro-computed tomography (μCT).
Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the distal radius over 30 months.

Main Results:

Pinealectomy (Px) and Ovx+Px groups showed a decline in cancellous bone volume (BV/TV) after 6 months.
Bone loss was attributed to increased trabecular separation and decreased thickness.
Pinealectomy led to sustained bone resorption and a continuous decrease in BMD up to 30 months.

Conclusions:

Pinealectomy in sheep induces significant bone loss, indicating the pineal gland's influence on bone metabolism.
This ovine model of pinealectomy can be utilized to study bone loss mechanisms.
The findings highlight the role of melatonin in regulating bone homeostasis.