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Diaphyseal bone formation in murine tibiae in response to knee loading
Author(s) -
Zhang P.,
Tanaka S. M.,
Jiang H.,
Su M.,
Yokota H.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2006.00572_2.x
Subject(s) - diaphysis , apposition , cortical bone , tibia , anatomy , bone formation , chemistry , bone mass , epiphysis , medicine , osteoporosis , femur , surgery , endocrinology
Mechanical stimulation is critical for bone architecture and bone mass. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of mechanical loads applied to the knee. The specific question was whether loads applied to the tibial epiphysis would enhance bone formation in the tibial diaphysis. In C57/BL/6 mice, loads of 0.5 N were applied for 3 min/day for 3 days at 5, 10, or 15 Hz. Bone samples were harvested 13 days after the last loading. The strains were measured 13±2 mu strains at 5 Hz in the diaphysis. The histomorphometric data in the diaphysis clearly showed enhanced bone formation. First, compared with nonloaded control the cross‐sectional cortical area was increased by 11% at 5 Hz and 8% at 10 Hz (both P <0.05). Second, the cortical thickness was elevated by 12% at 5 Hz ( P <0.01) and 8% at 10 Hz ( P <0.05). Third, mineralizing surface (MS/BS), mineral apposition rate (MAR), and bone formation rate (BFR/BS) were increased at 5 Hz ( P <0.01 for MS/BS; P <0.001 for MAR and BFR/BS) and at 10 Hz ( P <0.05 for MS/BS; P <0.01 for MAR and BFR/BS). Bone formation was enhanced more extensively in the medial side than the lateral or the posterior side. The results reveal that knee loading is an effective means to enhance bone formation in the tibial diaphysis in a loading frequency‐dependent manner without inducing significant in situ strain at the site of bone formation.