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Growth hormone injections improve bone quality in OI mice
Author(s) -
King Donna,
Camacho Nancy,
Huang Alice,
Jarjoura David,
McEwen Heather,
Askew Michael,
Majors Alana
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a637-d
Subject(s) - bone mineral , femur , endocrinology , medicine , bone density , quantitative computed tomography , parathyroid hormone , osteogenesis imperfecta , osteoporosis , x ray microtomography , anatomy , calcium , surgery , radiology
Heterozygous oim mutant mice are a model for mild osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Daily injections of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) were given in a protocol designed to simulate a trial on OI children. Osteoblasts showed normal secretory ability. Micro‐CT analysis on femur distal metaphyses revealed that treated male mice acquired greater bone volume fraction, trabecular number, and trabecular thickness, while females had significantly greater tissue density. pQCT analysis showed that rhGH treatment produced significant increases in cortical bone density and mineral content in the femur. Trabecular bone mineral content increased in lumbar vertebrae. Three‐point bending testing documented significant functional increases in bone stiffness, maximum load, the energy absorbed by the femurs to the point of maximum load, and the energy to actual fracture. Ultimate stress endured by the bone material was increased. A spectroscopic study is in progress to evaluate whether differences in mineral crystal size or distribution correlate with the biomechanical structural or material enhancements in rhGH treated femurs. Gains in bone length, cross sectional area, density, mineral content, structural biomechanical properties, and strength were achieved without directly addressing the genetic collagen defect in the mice. Results support expanded clinical testing of rhGH injections in children with OI.