Effects of selenium supplementation and chronic inflammation on bone microarchitecture and strength in mice

Abstract

Timed‐pregnant C57BL6 mice were fed a Torula yeast selenium‐depletion diet from the final days of gestation through lactation. At 23 days of age, pups were weaned and randomly assigned to the depletion diet or to diets supplemented with 0.2, 2 or 4 mg/kg diet of Se added as sodium selenate for 14 weeks. At 96–98 days of age mice were randomly assigned to placebo or to lipopolysaccharide (E. coli Serotype 0127:B8) treatment to produce chronic inflammation. Time release pellets (0 or 0.1 μg/g body weight/d) were implanted subcutaneously. Body weight was reduced by LPS 14 days after implantation but differences were no longer significant by 28 days. Bone microarchitecture was evaluated in tibia and 4th lumbar vertebra (L4) and force to compress was estimated on trabecular cores using finite element analysis (Scanco μCT40). Bone volume/total volume, connectivity density, and trabecular number were significantly reduced by LPS treatment while trabecular separation was increased by LPS treatment in both bones. In spine significant interactions affected size‐independent stiffness and von Mises stresses. Overall, chronic inflammation at a level that does not produce severe body weight loss still significantly impaired measures of bone microarchitecture and strength. (Supported by Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology).