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Using three-point bending to evaluate tibia bone strength in ovariectomized young mice

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Abstract

It is well known that estrogen deficiency induces a deterioration of bone strength in aged females. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of estrogen depletion on tibia bone strength in sexually mature mice that are still undergoing skeletal maturation. At 8 weeks of age, C57BL/6 female mice underwent an ovariectomy (OVX) or sham (SHAM) surgery. Mice were killed at 2, 4, or 8 weeks post-surgery. Tibia length and cross-sectional area continued to increase in both treatment groups until 4 weeks post-surgery. Compared to SHAM mice, OVX mice demonstrated a significant reduction in uterine weight and plasma estrogen levels. Three-point bending was used to quantify the mechanical properties (breaking point, stress, stiffness, and elasticity) of the tibia. The tibias from the SHAM mice had a higher breaking point than all the age-matched OVX mice. At 8 weeks post-surgery, the tibias from the SHAM mice demonstrated higher elasticity, stress, and stiffness than the younger SHAM mice and the age-matched OVX mice. Compared to the SHAM mice, our study suggests that (1) there is a reduction in the mechanical strength of tibias from young OVX mice, and (2) the greatest decline in tibia strength of the OVX mice was once they reached skeletal maturity.

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Acknowledgments

Support was provided by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) (P20 GM103429) to B.J.F.H. and the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium to A.W. Assistance was provided by Dr. Rahul Mehta (Dept of Physics & Astronomy) and Otis Perkins (undergraduate student). Analysis of plasma estrogen was conducted by The University of Virginia Center for Research in Reproduction Ligand Assay and Analysis Core, which is supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD/NIH (SCCPIR) Grant U54-HD28934.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Avenue, Conway, AR, 72035, USA

    Charles Deckard & Brent J. F. Hill

  2. Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Central Arkansas Conway, Conway, AR, 72035, USA

    Azida Walker

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  1. Charles Deckard
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Correspondence to Brent J. F. Hill.

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Deckard, C., Walker, A. & Hill, B.J.F. Using three-point bending to evaluate tibia bone strength in ovariectomized young mice. J Biol Phys 43, 139–148 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10867-016-9439-y

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