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Golden Syrian hamsters resist bone loss due to ovarian hormone deficiency
Author(s) -
Bakhshalian Neema,
Campbell Sara Chelland,
Hooshmand Shirin,
Arjmandi Bahram H.
Publication year - 2009
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.23.1_supplement.553.2
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , osteoporosis , ovariectomized rat , bone mineral , osteopenia , hamster , golden hamster , atrophy , hormone
Ovarian hormone deficiency places women at an increased risk for osteoporosis. Recently, it has been suggested that hamsters as a model may offer unique advantages in age‐related bone research. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of ovariectomy (Ovx) on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC). Seventy‐two 6‐month old Golden Syrian hamsters were either sham‐operated (sham) or Ovx and divided into three groups (n=12): sham, Ovx, and Ovx+ E2 (17â‐estradiol). Hamster were equal‐fed a semi‐purified casein‐based and cholesterol‐free powdered diet for 120 days. Upon euthanasia blood and bone samples were collected for analysis. Regional as well as whole body BMD and BMC were measured using dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry. Data analyses involved computation of least square means and standard error (SE) for each of the treatment groups using SAS version 8.2. Results showed that Ovx was successful as evident by significant uterine atrophy and lower plasma E2 levels. After 120 days Ovx animals did not experience significant losses in total bone area (36.1±0.6 vs 35.0±0.6), BMD (0.153±.002 vs 0.149±.002) or BMC (0.6±0.1 vs 0.3±0.1) or individual bones compared to sham animals. Our results suggest that the Ovx hamsters do not lose bone and may serve as a distinctive model to examine what protects these animals from bone loss.