Decreased Trabecular Bone Volume (decreased + trabecular_bone_volume)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Osteoblast Deletion of Exon 3 of the Androgen Receptor Gene Results in Trabecular Bone Loss in Adult Male Mice,

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2007
Amanda J Notini
Abstract The mechanism of androgen action on bone was studied in male mice with the AR deleted in mature osteoblasts. These mice had decreased trabecular bone volume associated with a decrease in trabecular number, suggesting that androgens may act directly on osteoblasts to maintain trabecular bone. Introduction: Androgens modulate bone cell activity and are important for the maintenance of bone mass. However, the mechanisms by which they exert these actions on bone remain poorly defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of androgens acting through the classical androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathways (i.e., DNA-binding dependent pathways) in osteoblasts using male mice in which exon 3 of the AR gene was deleted specifically in mature osteoblasts. Materials and Methods: Mice with a floxed exon 3 of the AR gene were bred with Col 2.3-cre transgenic mice, in which Cre recombinase is expressed in mineralizing osteoblasts. The skeletal phenotype of mutant mice was assessed by histomorphometry and quantitative ,CT at 6, 12, and 32 weeks of age (n = 8 per group). Wildtype, hemizygous exon 3 floxed and hemizygous Col 2.3-cre male littermates were used as controls. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's posthoc test. Results: ,CT analysis of the fifth lumbar vertebral body showed that these mice had reduced trabecular bone volume (p < 0.05) at 32 weeks of age compared with controls. This was associated with a decrease in trabecular number (p < 0.01) at 12 and 32 weeks of age, suggesting increased bone resorption. These effects were accompanied by a reduction in connectivity density (p < 0.01) and an increase in trabecular separation (p < 0.01). A similar pattern of trabecular bone loss was observed in the distal femoral metaphysis at 32 weeks of age. Conclusions: These findings show that inactivation of the DNA binding,dependent functions of the AR, specifically in mature osteoblasts in male mice, results in increased bone resorption and decreased structural integrity of the bone, leading to a reduction in trabecular bone volume at 32 weeks of age. These data provide evidence of a role for androgens in the maintenance of trabecular bone volume directly through DNA binding,dependent actions of the AR in mature osteoblasts. [source]


Mice Lacking the Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 Are Protected from Trabecular Bone Loss Induced by Estrogen Deficiency

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 8 2000
E. Daci
Abstract Bone turnover requires the interaction of several proteases during the resorption phase. Indirect evidence suggests that the plasminogen activator/plasmin pathway is involved in bone resorption and turnover, and recently we have shown that this cascade plays a role in the degradation of nonmineralized bone matrix in vitro. To elucidate the role of the plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) in bone turnover in vivo, bone metabolism was analyzed in mice deficient in the expression of PAI-1 gene (PAI-1,/,) at baseline (8-week-old mice) and 4 weeks after ovariectomy (OVX) or sham operation (Sham) and compared with wild-type (WT) mice. PAI-1 inactivation was without any effect on bone metabolism at baseline or in Sham mice. However, significant differences were observed in the response of WT and PAI-1,/, mice to ovariectomy. The OVX WT mice showed, as expected, decreased trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) and increased osteoid surface (OS/BS) and bone formation rate (BFR), as assessed by histomorphometric analysis of the proximal tibial metaphysis. In contrast, no significant change in any of the histomorphometric variables studied was detected in PAI-1,/, mice after ovariectomy. As a result, the OVX PAI-1,/, had a significantly higher BV/TV, lower OS/BS, lower mineral apposition rate (MAR) and BFR when compared with the OVX WT mice. However, a comparable decrease in the cortical thickness was observed in OVX PAI-1,/, and WT mice. In addition, the cortical mineral content and density assessed in the distal femoral metaphysis by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), decreased significantly after ovariectomy, without difference between PAI-1,/, mice and WT mice. In conclusion, basal bone turnover and bone mass are only minimally affected by PAI-1 inactivation. In conditions of estrogen deficiency, PAI-1 inactivation protects against trabecular bone loss but does not affect cortical bone loss, suggesting a site-specific role for PAI-1 in bone turnover. [source]


Imaging the effects of castration on bone turnover and hormone-independent prostate cancer colonization of bone

THE PROSTATE, Issue 15 2008
N.A. Cross
Abstract INTRODUCTION Tumor populations may selectively colonize bone that is being actively remodeled. In prostate cancer patients, androgen deprivation directly inhibits tumor growth initially, whilst induced bone loss may facilitate tumor colonization of bone by androgen-insensitive cells. We have tested this hypothesis using a xenograft model of early growth of prostate cancer in bone. METHODS PC3 cells transfected with Green fluorescent protein (GFP) were injected into castrated and non-castrated athymic mice via intrabial and intracardiac routes. In vivo tumor growth was monitored daily and animals sacrificed 6,9 days following initial GFP-based detection of tumors. Tumor bearing and contra-lateral non-tumor bearing tibias were analyzed extensively by micro-CT and histology/immunohistochemistry for the presence of tumor cells and the effects of tumor and/or castration on bone cells and bone structure evaluated. RESULTS GFP-positive tumors in bone were visible from 12 days post-injection following intratibial injection, allowing tumors <1 mm diameter to be monitored in live animals. Castration did not affect tumor frequency, tumor volume, or time to initial appearance of tumors injected via intratibial or intracardiac routes. Castration decreased trabecular bone volume in all mice. Significant tumor-induced suppression of numbers of osteoblasts, coupled with increased numbers of activated osteoclasts, was evident in both intact animals and castrated animals. CONCLUSIONS In vivo GFP imaging allows the detection of early tumor growth at intra-osseous sites. Castration induces bone loss, but PC3-GFP cells are also capable of inducing bone remodeling in intact animals at early time points, independently of pre-existing castration-induced alterations to bone. Prostate 68: 1707,1714, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Glucocorticoid-induced bone loss in mice can be reversed by the actions of parathyroid hormone and risedronate on different pathways for bone formation and mineralization

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 11 2008
Wei Yao
Objective Glucocorticoid excess decreases bone mineralization and microarchitecture and leads to reduced bone strength. Both anabolic (parathyroid hormone [PTH]) and antiresorptive agents are used to prevent and treat glucocorticoid-induced bone loss, yet these bone-active agents alter bone turnover by very different mechanisms. This study was undertaken to determine how PTH and risedronate alter bone quality following glucocorticoid excess. Methods Five-month-old male Swiss-Webster mice were treated with the glucocorticoid prednisolone (5 mg/kg in a 60-day slow-release pellet) or placebo. From day 28 to day 56, 2 groups of glucocorticoid-treated animals received either PTH (5 ,g/kg) or risedronate (5 ,g/kg) 5 times per week. Bone quality and quantity were measured using x-ray tomography for the degree of bone mineralization, microfocal computed tomography for bone microarchitecture, compression testing for trabecular bone strength, and biochemistry and histomorphometry for bone turnover. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry were performed to monitor the expression of several key genes regulating Wnt signaling (bone formation) and mineralization. Results Compared with placebo, glucocorticoid treatment decreased trabecular bone volume (bone volume/total volume [BV/TV]) and serum osteocalcin, but increased serum CTX and osteoclast surface, with a peak at day 28. Glucocorticoids plus PTH increased BV/TV, and glucocorticoids plus risedronate restored BV/TV to placebo levels after 28 days. The average degree of bone mineralization was decreased after glucocorticoid treatment (,27%), but was restored to placebo levels after treatment with glucocorticoids plus risedronate or glucocorticoids plus PTH. On day 56, RT-PCR revealed that expression of genes that inhibit bone mineralization (Dmp1 and Phex) was increased by continuous exposure to glucocorticoids and glucocorticoids plus PTH and decreased by glucocorticoids plus risedronate, compared with placebo. Wnt signaling antagonists Dkk-1, Sost, and Wif1 were up-regulated by glucocorticoid treatment but down-regulated after glucocorticoid plus PTH treatment. Immunohistochemistry of bone sections showed that glucocorticoids increased N-terminal Dmp-1 staining while PTH treatment increased both N- and C-terminal Dmp-1 staining around osteocytes. Conclusion Our findings indicate that both PTH and risedronate improve bone mass, degree of bone mineralization, and bone strength in glucocorticoid-treated mice, and that PTH increases bone formation while risedronate reverses the deterioration of bone mineralization. [source]