Objective: To compare microcrack with bone mineral desity (BMD), bone histomorphometry and biomechanics parameters, and to investigate the potential of microcrack in the evaluation of bone biomechanical quality.
Methods: Eight 10-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were served as baseline controls, and 90 10-month-old rats were randomly divided into A, B, and C groups. Each group comprised ovariectomized (OVX), 17 beta-estradiol treated [EST, 10 micro/(kg x d)] and sham-operated (SHAM) subgroups. Rats from groups A,B and C were killed at the 3rd, 15th and 21st week post-operatively. Total body and lumbar vertebral BMD were measured before being killed, and BMD of isolated lumbar vertebrae and tibiae were measured after killing. Bone histomorphometry of the proximal end of isolated right tibia was performed,and compression test was carried out on the isolated 5th lumbar vertebra (L5). After fatigue damage, the isolated 4th lumbar vertebra was stained by en bloc basic fuchsin staining, and microcrack density (Cr. Dn) and microcrack surface density (Cr. SDn) were de- termined on the bone tissue sections. Bone parameters in each subgroup of rats were observed at different time.
Results: (1) At the 15th and 21st week post-operatively, multi-part BMD, Cr. Dn and Cr. SDn were higher than those at the 3rd week. (2) At the 15th week, trabecular separation (Tb. Sp) increased, trabecular number (Tb. N) decreased, and the maximum loading level and elastic modulus of vertebra reached the peak. (3) At the 3rd week, Tb. Sp, Cr. Dn and Cr. SDn in the OVX subgroup were greater than those in the EST subgroup, while the percentage of trabecular area (TbTr) in the OVX subgroup was lower than that of the EST and SHAM subgroups. No changes of BMDs and biomechanic parameters were observed among the three subgroups. (4) At the 15th week, multi-part BMD and maximum loading level in the OVX and EST subgroups were lower than those in the SHAM subgroup, while elastic modulus, bone histomorphometry parameters, Cr. Dn and Cr. SDn had no change among the three subgroups. (5) At the 21st week, multi-part BMDs, Tb. N and TbTr in the OVX subgroup were smaller than those in the EST and SHAM subgroups. Tb. Sp, bone formation rate, mineral apposition rate, percent labeled perimeter,Cr. Dn and Cr. SDn in the OVX subgroups were greater than those in the EST and SHAM subgroups. Maximum loading level and elastic modulus of vertebra in EST and OVX subgroups were lower than those in the SHAM subgroup. There were no significant differences in all of these parameters Microcrack can be regarded as an alterative between the EST and the SHAM subgroup. Conclusion parameter in the evaluation of bone biomechanical quality.