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Age-related changes in female mouse cortical bone microporosity
Haniyeh Hemmatian1, Michaël R Laurent2, Astrid D Bakker3
1Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Bone
|May 9, 2018
Summary
Aging significantly alters bone structure, reducing vascular canals and changing osteocyte lacunae shape and density. These changes in bone microporosity may contribute to age-related bone strength decline.
Area of Science:
- Bone biology
- Skeletal biomechanics
- Gerontology
Background:
- Osteocyte lacunae are crucial for bone mechanosensing.
- Lacunae morphology and spatial arrangement influence bone mechanical properties.
- Bone microporosity, including lacunae and vascular canals, is vital for bone health.
Purpose of the Study:
- Quantify osteocyte lacunae morphology and its changes with aging.
- Investigate variations in lacunae morphology across different anatomical locations.
- Quantify vascular canals to assess their impact on bone microporosity.
Main Methods:
- Micro-computed tomography (μCT) was used for quantitative analysis.
- Microporosity was assessed in the fibular midshaft of mice.
- Comparisons were made between young-adult and old female C57BL/6 mice.
Main Results:
- Advanced age led to decreased vascular canal number and volume density.
- Osteocyte lacunae in aged mice were smaller and more rounded than in young mice.
- Lacuna number density increased near the fibula's neutral axis in older mice.
Conclusions:
- Aging significantly impacts bone microporosity by altering vascular canals and osteocyte lacunae.
- Changes in bone microstructure with age may underlie reduced bone strength.
- Further research into bone microporosity is needed to understand age-related bone degradation.
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