Abstract
Osteoporosis is a metabolic disorder characterized by a loss of bone mass and structure and increasing the risk of fragility fractures, mostly among postmenopausal women. Sheep is a recognized large animal model for osteoporosis research. An experimental group of ewes (3-4 years old) was subjected to ovariectomy (OVX) and weekly glucocorticoid (GC) application for 24 weeks and compared with a sham control group. Blood and bone marrow parameters were analyzed before and 24 weeks after OVX and GC administration. Osteopenia was confirmed through micro-computed tomography and histomorphometric analysis of L4 vertebra in the study end. A statistically significant increase was observed in mean corpuscular volume, mean cell hemoglobin and monocytes and a decrease in red blood count and eosinophils (p<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, magnesium and α1-globulin increased, and creatinine, albumin, sodium and estradiol decreased (p<0.05). A slight decrease of bone formation markers (bone ALP and osteocalcin) and an increase of bone resorption markers (C-terminal telopeptides of collagen type 1 and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) were observed, but without statistical significance. This study aims to contribute to better knowledge of sheep as a model for osteoporosis research and the consequences that a performed induction protocol may impose on organic metabolism.
Highlights
Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disease resulting from changes in bone remodeling characterized by increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation (Cabrera et al 2018)
The aim of this study is to contribute to the characterization of the GC-treated OVX sheep through evaluation of the effects of this osteoporosis induction protocol on the haematological and biochemical blood parameters levels, including estradiol (E2) and a set of formation and resorption bone turnover markers (BTMs) (ALP and BALP, intact OC, CTX and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)) and bone marrow composition
Hematological and serum biochemical analysis and bone marrow cytology analysis Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), monocytes levels presented a statistically significant increase, and red blood cell count (RBC) and eosinophil levels decreased after the bone loss induction protocol
Summary
Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disease resulting from changes in bone remodeling characterized by increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation (Cabrera et al 2018). These changes result in a loss of bone mass and structure in which bone strength is compromised, increasing the probability of fragility fractures, mainly in the femoral neck, wrist, pelvis and lumbar vertebrae among other skeletal sites (Riggs & Melton 1986, Riggs et al 2003). Osteoporosis predominantly affects older Caucasian women with low estrogen levels in the postmenopausal period and is considered the most prevalent worldwide metabolic bone disease (Curtis et al 2017). In order to modify this scenario, more studies are necessary to better
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