title: The limitation of DEXA analysis for bone mass determination in mice.
abstract: An increase in femoral and tibio/fibular bone mass following periosteal membrane stimulation by Moloney sarcoma virus inoculation into thigh muscles of mice was measured in situ on formalin fixed excised hind limbs using a Hologic 4500A Fan Beam X-ray bone densitometer adapted for small bone samples. These results were verified by measurements of constant dry bone mass of the same bones liberated from soft limb tissues by NaOH hydrolysis. There was no consistent data correlation found between the DEXA scan and dry bone mass evaluations. It is concluded that the sensitivity of the DEXA measurement is unsuitable when assessing very small bone samples, weighing merely 20-30 mg.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Research Group, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Queen's University of Belfast, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast BT9 7JB, N Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Glenn R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luczak
authors.forename: Krzysztof H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Włodarski
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008980:Moloney murine sarcoma virus; D010521:Periosteum / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology