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Trabecular bone of precocials at birth; Are they prepared to run for the wolf(f)?
Ben M C Gorissen1, Claudia F Wolschrijn1, Anouk A M van Vilsteren2
1Department of Pathobiology, Anatomy and Physiology Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Insights
Precocial neonates, like foals and calves, exhibit anticipatory bone development strategies. These species-specific adaptations in trabecular bone structure prepare them for early loading, differing from altricial animals.
Area of Science:
- Comparative anatomy
- Skeletal biology
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Bone adapts to mechanical loading via Wolff's law.
- Precocial species' neonates face rapid environmental changes and require immediate mobility.
- Intrauterine to extrauterine transition poses unique skeletal challenges for precocial newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate anticipatory mechanisms in precocial bone development.
- Analyze trabecular bone parameters in stillborn calves and foals.
- Identify species-specific adaptations to early loading in neonatal bone.
Main Methods:
- Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging of talus and tibia sagittal ridge.
- Analysis of trabecular bone parameters in stillborn precocial mammals.
- Quantitative assessment of bone volume fraction and anisotropy.
Main Results:
- Shetland pony foals showed significantly higher bone volume fraction (49-74%) than Warmblood foals (28-51%).
- Bovine trabecular bone had lower bone volume fraction (22-28%) but greater directional anisotropy.
- Species-specific differences in trabecular bone structure were observed.
Conclusions:
- Precocial species possess anticipatory skeletal development strategies.
- These strategies vary between species, likely influenced by joint geometry and loading patterns.
- Underlying genetic blueprints may regulate these developmental adaptations, offering insights into bone diseases.
Abstract:
Bone is a dynamic tissue adapting to loading according to "Wolff's law of bone adaptation." During very early life, however, such a mechanism may not be adequate enough to adapt to the dramatic change in environmental challenges in precocial species. Their neonates are required to stand and walk within hours after birth, in contrast to altricial animals that have much more time to adapt from the intrauterine environment to the outside world. In this study, trabecular bone parameters of the talus and sagittal ridge of the tibia from stillborn but full-term precocials (calves and foals) were analyzed by micro-CT imaging in order to identify possible anticipatory mechanisms to loading. Calculated average bone volume fraction in the Shetland pony (49-74%) was significantly higher compared to Warmblood foals (28-51%). Bovine trabecular bone was characterized by a low average bone volume fraction (22-28%), however, more directional anisotropy was found. It is concluded that anticipatory strategies in skeletal development exist in precocial species, which differ per species and are most likely related to anatomical differences in joint geometry and related loading patterns. The underlying regulatory mechanisms are still unknown, but they may be based on a genetic blueprint for the development of bone. More knowledge, both about a possible blueprint and its regulation, will be helpful in understanding developmental bone and joint diseases. J. Morphol. 277:948-956, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.