Adaptation of cancellous bone to overloading in the adult rat: A single photon absorptiometry and histomorphometry study

Abstract

Nine-month-old female rats were subjected to right hindlimb immobilization or served as controls for 0, 2, 10, 18, and 26 weeks and were double-labeled with bone markers. The right limb was immobilized against the abdomen and considered unloaded, while the left limb was overloaded during ambulation. Single-photon absorptiometry was performed on intact femur; static and dynamic histomorphometry were performed on 20 μm thick undecalcified frontal sections of the proximal tibial metaphysis. Changes in the continuously overloaded limb was compared to that in both limbs of age-matched control animals. Single-photon absorptiometry detected increases of bone mineral density of +6%, +6%, and +5% in the proximal and +9%, +7%, and +10% in the distal femoral metaphyses after 10, 18, and 26 weeks of continuous overloading. Morphometrically, significant changes occurred in proximal tibial metaphyses compared to age-matched controls; trabecular area increased +41% and +45%, trabecular number increased +31% and +32%, and trabecular separation decreased −30% and −31% after 18 and 26 weeks of overloading. A significant increase in mineral apposition rate (+38%) was found only at 26 weeks of overloading. Insignificant decreases in both eroded and labeled bone surfaces occurred at all time periods. The histomorphometric changes indicated that increased cancellous bone mass was caused by an increase in bone formation activity (i.e., increases in mineral apposition and bone formation rates) and a decrease in remodeling space (i.e., decrease in bone eroded surface). These findings indicate that the adult skeleton can quickly adapt to the increased biomechanical needs by increasing its cancellous bone mass with an adequate structural pattern. It further support Frost's postulate that increasing skeletal mechanical usage stimulates bone modeling and depresses bone remodeling to increase and maintain bone mass.