title: Quantitative associations between osteocyte density and biomechanics, microcrack and microstructure in OVX rats vertebral trabeculae.
abstract: Osteocytes actively regulate bone modeling and remodeling, direct skeletal mineralization, and regulate calcium/phosphate homeostasis and extracellular matrix metabolism; yet the specific role of osteocytes in maintaining bone structural integrity and strength is unknown. Studies have shown that the density of osteocytes decreases with age and estrogen deficiency, as seen in postmenopausal women. Here, we examined the relationships between osteocyte density and the related variables, including biomechanics, bone mineral density, microcrack and microstructure of vertebral trabeculae, in ovariectomized rats. We found that osteocyte density correlated with some of the parameters that determine the biomechanical quality of bone. Our findings suggest that osteocytes could play a crucial role in maintaining the mechanical quality of bone, and osteocyte density could be considered as an alternative index in assessing bone quality.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiang-Ya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ru-Chun
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Zhi-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yu-Hai
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ling-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Hui-Jie
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Er-Yuan
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density; D002452:Cell Count; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D014054:Tomography
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens