The bone alterations in hind limb amputation rats in vivo

Abstract

Osteoporosis, which is characterized by bone loss, increases the risk of fractures and s and seriously affected the amputee’s health. Muscle mass is an important factor affecting bone mineral density (BMD). Muscular atrophy and decreased muscle mass can cause BMD to fall. The bone quantity and quality are used to assess by Microcomputer tomography (micro-CT) with non-destructive. To investigate the performance of micro-CT in evaluating amputation-induced osteopenia in rats, the micro-CT was used to evaluate the change of the microstructure in trabecular bone and cortical bone of amputation. Muscle morphology was analyzed by micro-CT and transmission electron microscopy. Female Sprague–Dawley rats (8 week old) were divided into two groups: control (CON) groups and left hind limb amputation (LHLA). At 35 days, microstructure and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) of the tibia and femur were detected through micro-CT. The results showed: (1) the trabecular and cortical vBMD of the proximal tibia and distal femur in the LHLA group were significantly lower than those in the CON group. (2) Compared with the CON group, the trabecular number, bone volume fraction and trabecular thickness of proximal tibia and distal femur in LHLA group decreased significantly, whereas the trabecular separation, structure model index and bone surface/bone volume increased significantly in LHLA group. (3) The whole cross-sectional area (CSA) of whole calf muscles of left limb in LHLA group decreased significantly compared with CON group. In general, hind limb amputation could cause bone loss, changes in the microstructure of trabecular bone and muscle atrophy. Micro-CT is sensitive in evaluating bone microstructure destruction caused by amputation, and can be used for early diagnosis or monitor the development of bone loss in amputation in vivo.