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Reduced Bone Density and Cortical Bone Indices in Female Adiponectin-Knockout Mice
Dorit Naot1, Maureen Watson1, Karen E Callon1
1Department of Medicine (D.N., M.W., K.E.C., D.T., D.S.M., A.J.C., G.D.G., A.G., J.C.), University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; Auckland Bioengineering Institute (D.S., J.F.), University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; Department of Engineering Science (J.F.), University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; and Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering (P.T.T., M.D.), University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
Adiponectin positively impacts bone density and geometry in mice, despite lower body fat in knockout models. This suggests adiponectin may not link increased fat mass to bone mass in humans.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Bone Biology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- A positive association exists between fat mass and bone mass, mediated by signaling molecules.
- Circulating adiponectin levels correlate inversely with visceral fat and bone mineral density, suggesting a role in fat-bone coupling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of adiponectin on bone tissue.
- To test the hypothesis that adiponectin influences bone phenotype.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of wild-type and adiponectin-knockout (APN-KO) female mice (8-37 weeks).
- Longitudinal assessment of body composition and bone density (DXA).
- Analysis of bone properties via micro-CT, histomorphometry, mechanical testing, nanoindentation, and computational modeling.
Main Results:
- APN-KO mice exhibited reduced body fat and decreased whole-skeleton bone mineral density.
- Reduced cortical bone dimensions and, in younger mice, reduced trabecular bone volume were observed in APN-KO mice.
- No significant differences in bone strength or material properties were found between groups.
Conclusions:
- Adiponectin demonstrates a positive effect on bone geometry and density in this mouse model.
- The findings suggest adiponectin does not mediate the coupling between increased fat mass and bone mass.
- Low adiponectin levels in humans with high fat mass are unlikely to explain the concurrent increase in bone mass.
