Effect of low stress environment on bone density and geome-morphology of rat femur / 生物医学工程学杂志

ABSTRACT

6-week old rats were subjected to sciatic nerve resection and the right hindlimbs were then under a low stress environment. Bone mineral density (BMD) of different regions and geome-morphological parameters of femurs were measured. The results showed that the increase in the diameter, subperiosteal area and bone mineral density of femurs were suppressed obviously under low stress environment. But the sensitivity of BMD of different regions of the femur to the low stress environment was different. The suppression of the increase in femoral BMD was composed of an early impairment in the gain of BMD at the femoral metaphysis, which is rich in trabecular bone, and a sustained reduction in the gain of BMD at the femoral diaphysis, which is rich in cortical bone. The results of geome-morphology suggested that the early reduction in the increase of BMD at the metaphysis was due to an enhancement of bone resorption, whereas the suppression of gain in cortical bone mass and size is the result of a sustained reduction of periosteal bone formation.