Establishing a rat model of osteoporosis with critical-size calvarial defects

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2017.08.015

Abstract：BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis with bone defects is becoming a devastating problem. To establish an animal model is the basis of studying this disease, but how to establish the animal model is not yet reported.OBJECTIVE: To establish a Sprague-Dawley rat model of osteoporosis accompanied with critical-size calvarial defects.METHODS: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups, followed by bilateral ovariectomy, and 8 mm critical-size calvarial defects were established 12 weeks later (experimental group) or followed by removal of the same quality of adipose tissues around bilateral ovaries and 8 mm critical-size calvarial defects were established 12 weeks later (control group). Twelve weeks after modeling, the three-dimensional bone mineral content and bone mineral density of the isolated proximal femur and distal tibial, as well as the level of serum alkaline phosphatase were detected;at the same time, the histological morphology of the skull was observed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The skull defects in both two groups were not completely healed and the repair outcome was not significant. The new bone formation in the control group was significantly more remarkable than that in the experimental group. Compared with the control group, the three-dimensional bone mineral content and bone mineral density of the proximal femur and distal tibial were significantly decreased, and the level of serum alkaline phosphatase was significantly increased in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in the experimental group, the trabecular bone became smaller and thinner, the bone marrow cavity was obviously increased, the cortical bone appeared to be markedly thinner, and the formation of new bone matrix was significantly decreased. To conclude, the Sprague-Dawley rat model of osteoporosis with critical-size calvarial defects is successfully established..