Aging and food restriction alter some indices of bone metabolism in male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).
Food restriction increases life span, reduces aging rate and affects a wide variety of biological functions. In rats, food restriction delays bone growth and reduces bone density and mineral content. We report the effects of aging and long-term (> 6.0 y) food restriction on several indices of bone growth and metabolism in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Food allotments for controls approximated free access consumption, whereas food-restricted monkeys received 30% less food on a body weight basis. Cross-sectional and longitudinal age effects on serum alkaline phosphatase paralleled those reported for humans. Food restriction induced a significant delay in the developmental decline (to adult levels) in total alkaline phosphatase and significantly suppressed serum interleukin 6 concentrations, particularly in younger monkeys. Also, food restriction slowed skeletal growth, as reflected by shorter crown-rump length, and significantly reduced total body bone mineral content, but not bone mineral density, measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Analyses of serum parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphate and osteocalcin concentrations suggested that the effects on skeletal growth were not related to alterations in calcium and phosphate homeostasis or a primary defect in bone formation. These findings suggest that long-term food restriction delays skeletal development in male rhesus monkeys while allowing the development of a reduced but otherwise normal skeleton.
Lane
M A
MA
Molecular Physiology and Genetics Section, Nathan Shock Laboratories, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Reznick
A Z
AZ
Tilmont
E M
EM
Lanir
A
A
Ball
S S
SS
Read
V
V
Ingram
D K
DK
Cutler
R G
RG
Roth
G S
GS
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D015850:Interleukin-6; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010710:Phosphates; D015675:Osteocalcin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium