The sheep as a model for osteoporosis in humans.
There is great interest in large animal models for studying different aspects of osteoporosis. Several laboratories around the world have used ovariectomized sheep as a model because of their ease of housing and handling, low expense compared to other large animals, availability and acceptance in society as a research animal. They have been used to study the response to new therapies for post-menopausal osteoporosis, low-magnitude mechanical stimulation, orthopedic implants in osteoporotic bone and bioactive ceramics to strengthen vertebral bodies. To produce severely osteopenic bone comparable to that seen in humans, a combination of estrogen deficiency following ovariectomy plus a calcium-wasting diet is currently being investigated.
Turner
A S
AS
Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. sturner@lamar.colostate.edu
D000818:Animals; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000172:deficiency; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology
D002118:Calcium