Bone Density and Strength Decreased in a Mouse Model of Diabetes, db/db Mice

Diabetes is a disorder of glucose metabolism and uncontrolled or poorly controlled glycemia has the potential to impair all organs. Cardiovascular disease, renal impairment, neuropathy, inflammation, ocular changes and impaired wound healing are well recognized complications of this disease, sometimes even in the presence of reasonably well‐controlled blood glucose. Recently osteoporosis and increased fracture risk has also been added to this long list. To complicate matters, some therapies that provide good glycemic control have adverse effects on the skeletal system further compromising already fragile bones in diabetic patients. Db/db mice are commonly used model for diabetes research. The goal of this work was to investigate the skeletal integrity in this model. Bones were collected from db/db mice and their wild type littermates. Femurs were scanned using pQCT and BMC, BMD and also bone geometry parameters were obtained at the metaphysis and also diaphysis site. The bone strength was obtained by the three point bending test. The results indicate that the db/db mice had smaller bones with lower bone density. The bone strength of these animals was also compromised. These results highlight the importance of the consideration to include bone assessment in safety studies to monitor for diabetic complications