title: Comparative bone analysis via inflammation-mediated osteopenia (IMO) in the rat.
abstract: Various methods exist for determination of trabecular or total bone mass in animal experiments. There is one group of simple techniques not requiring sophisticated equipment focusing on bone-calcium determination. By contrast, another group of newer methods requires complex equipment for procedures such as computerized analysis of bone X-rays or of nondecalcified bone sections. The methods of the first group require considerable time to perform, whereas those of the second group allow a great number of analyses in a short time. We have adapted the computerized techniques to the determination of rat-bone mass and then compared both types of methodology using the new animal model for pathological loss of bone mass: the syndrome of inflammation-mediated osteopenia (IMO) in rats [1, 2]. Reliable results were obtained with both approaches, but we recommend the use of one of the new techniques in cases where a large number of analyses is required.
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000201:Activation Analysis; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur; D009929:Organ Size; D010000:Osteitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013977:Tibia