Summary
Several investigators have studied the mechanical properties of long bones of rats and have found that bone strength may be associated with bone mineral content. In this study we examined further the interrelationships of whole bone properties and bone ash weight of the rat femur. Using a 3-point bending test, the bones were evaluated during lactation and after one to three pregnancy— lactation periods—experiments in which bone ash was significantly reduced. A relationship was established between the time of lactation and the ash weight, stiffness, strength, and toughness but not the ductility. Using all of the experimental data, a highly significant relationship was observed between ash weight and stiffness. A similar significant correlation was revealed between bone ash and strength or toughness, although drawing individual lines for each experiment rather than a common line for all the experiments appeared more appropriate. Given the inherent inaccuracies in the material property measurements of bone, the results suggest that routine measurements of whole bone properties provide an important and sensitive way to evaluate bone quality and that these properties correlate significantly with the bone ash weight.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Whedon GD (1984) Disuse osteoporosis: physiological aspects. Calcif Tissue Int 36:S146-S150
Schneider VS, McDonald J (1984) Skeletal calcium homeostasis and countermeasures to prevent disuse osteoporosis. Calcif Tissue Int 36:S151-S154
Meade JB, Cowin SC, Klawitter JJ, Van Buskirk WC, Skinner HB (1984) Bone remodeling due to continuously applied loads. Calcif Tissue Int 36:S25-S30
Saville PD, Smith R (1966) Bone density, breaking force, and leg muscle mass as functions of weight in bipedal rats. Am J Phys Anthrop 25:35–40
Currey JD, Hughes SM (1973) The effects of pregnancy and lactation on some mechanical properties of the femora of the rat. Calcif Tissue Res 11:112–123
Lanyon LE (1984) Functional strain as a determinant for bone remodeling. Calcif Tissue Int 36:S56-S61
Currey JD (1973) Interactions between age, pregnancy, and lactation and some mechanical properties of the femora of rats. Calcif Tissue Res 13:99–112
Ferretti JL, Tessaro RD, Audisio EO, Galassi CD (1985) Long-term effects of high or low Ca intakes and of lack of parathyroid function on rat femur biomechanics. Calcif Tissue Int 37:608–612
Currey JD (1984) What should bones be designed to do? Calcif Tissue Int 36:S7-S10
Peng T-C, Kusy RP, Garner SC, Hirsch PF, de Blanco MC (1987) Influence of lactation and pregnancy+lactation on mechanical properties and mineral content of the rat femur. J Bone & Mineral Res 2:249–257
Hammant B (1971) The use of 4-point loading tests to determine mechanical properties. Composites 2:246–249
Burstein AH, Frankel VH (1971) A standard test for laboratory animal bone. J Biomechanics 4:155–158
Vogel HG (1979) Influence of maturation and aging on mechanical and biochemical parameters of rat bone. Gerontology 25:16–23
Beary DF (1969) The effects of fluoride and low calcium on the physical properties of the rat femur. Anat Record 164:305–316
Bollet AJ (1970) Effect of protein depletion on skin and bone collagen. Mt Sinai J Med 37:445–449
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kusy, R.P., Peng, TC., Hirsch, P.F. et al. Interrelationships of bone ash and whole bone properties in the lactating and parous rat. Calcif Tissue Int 41, 337–341 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02556673
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02556673