title: [Age-related changes in bone mineral density, mean width and area of the lumbar vertebrae in male African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops)].
abstract: We were able to measure bone mineral density (BMD), mean bone width and the area of the lumbar vertebrae in male African green monkeys with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DPX-alpha, Lunar, USA). For analysis of spinal bone mass, mean width and area of the bone, we scanned lumbar vertebrae L3-L5 using a pediatric analysis program. We used restraining bed made of formed polystyrol to support the animal in a supine position. The precision of the measuring technique was calculated by averaging the coefficients of variance of the 5 scans obtained in 5 animals aged from 5 to 7 years. The precision values for BMD, bone width and area were 1.9%, 0.9% and 2.6%, respectively. Furthermore, age-related changes in bone measurements were demonstrated using laboratory-bred males (n = 45) and, additionally, wild-originated males (n = 7, estimated ages over 15 years old). The values of B M D, bone width and area at 6 months old were about 0.3 g/cm2, 1.2cm and 4.5 cm2 respectively. These values increased with aging to about 0.7 g/cm2, 1.5 cm and 11cm2 at 5 years old, respectively, and were judged to reach plateau. However, animals over 10 years old and wild-originated animals which had been kept over 10 years in our breeding colony showed rather smaller BMD and area values than the animals aged 5 to 10 years. The animals aged between 5 and 10 years seemed to have retained a peak bone mass in this primate species.
authors.affiliation: Corporation for Production and Research of Laboratory Primates, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiyaoka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000662:veterinary; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D015519:Bone Density; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male