Different bone sites-specific response to diabetes rat models: Bone density, histology and microarchitecture

Background and purposeDiabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common metabolic disorder that is characterized by hyperglycemia, it can be categorized by T1DM and T2DM. T1DM is also reported to cause bone loss. However, most reports regarding this aspect of T1DM have only investigated a single site; a comparison of bone loss from different areas of the body is still lacking.MethodsThirty-five 12-week-old Sprague Dawley® (SD) rats were separated to seven groups. Five rats were euthanized without any surgery at 0 weeks for histological examination and determination of baseline characteristics. In 15 of the rats, DM was induced via Streptozotocin (STZ)-injection, and they were separated to 3 groups (4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks after STZ-injection). The remaining 15 rats were used as the control group (4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks after saline-injection). We tested bone-mass loss at four skeletal sites, the tibia, the femur greater trochanter, the spine, and the mandibular bones using micro-computed tomography (CT) and histological tests.ResultsTibia was influenced the most obvious(BV/TV decreased by 27.3%, 52.5%, and 81.2% at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks, respectively. pConclusionThe results indicate that T1DM can severely influence the bone structure of the 4 skeletal sites. Further, areas with dense trabecular bones were influenced less and at a later time point in comparison to the tibial region.Clinical relevanceOur research can serve as a guide to help increase the success rate of implant treatment, and help decrease the fracture risk in different bone types with greater accuracy.