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Morphological, mechanical and biochemical changes in long bones following spinal cord injury
Author(s) -
Zamarioli Ariane,
Morse Leslie,
Battaglino Ricardo,
Maranho Daniel,
Volpon Jose B,
Paula Francisco A,
Shimano Antonio C
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.521.3
Subject(s) - femur , spinal cord injury , tibia , medicine , anatomy , bone remodeling , spinal cord , histology , reduction (mathematics) , bone mass , osteoporosis , pathology , surgery , geometry , mathematics , psychiatry
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with rapid and intense bone loss and higher fracture risk. We aimed to assess the effects of a complete SCI and passive standing post‐SCI on the bone metabolism in rats. Severely injured with and without passive standing and body weight‐matched uninjured male Wistar rats were studied. Serum bone turnover and long bones (mechanical tests, macroscopic analysis, histological sections and micro‐CT) were analyzed on days 33 and 63 post‐SCI. At study entry, rats’ body mass was similar among the groups. Uninjured rats gained weight during the course of the study. SCI rats also gained weight, but not in the same proportion. Morphological changes were seen at the macroscopic structures of both femur and tibias, such as decreased bones mass and cross‐sectional area. Reduction of the bone saliences in tibias, as anterior tuberosity and posterior muscle insertions were also seen in the SCI rats. Our microscopic analysis (histology, scanning electronic microscopy and micro‐CT) showed increased number of osteoclasts and trabeculae spacing, reduced trabeculae number, thickness and connectivity. SCI also reduced OPG levels, increased TRAP and caused a significant reduction in bone strength at both femur and tibia on days 33 and 63. The changes caused by the SCI on the bone metabolism were ameliorated and even reverted following passive standing.