Reduced local blood supply to the tibial metaphysis is associated with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate angiogenesis of the tibial metaphysis in ovariectomized mice with microcomputed tomography, as well as to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the metaphysis, and to explore the relationship between osteoporosis and local blood supply to bones.


METHODS
Sixty mice were randomly divided into an ovariectomy group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). Four weeks after ovariectomy, the mice were killed and the distribution of vessels in the tibial metaphysis was determined after silicone rubber perfusion. In addition, the expression of VEGF of the tibial metaphysis was immunohistochemically determined and bone mineral density, microarchitecture, and biomechanics were tested.


RESULTS
The bone mineral density, biomechanical parameters, number of microvessels, and expression of VEGF were significantly reduced in the tibial metaphysis of ovariectomized mice, whose bone microarchitecture was also disrupted.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, it was found that reduced local blood supply to the tibial metaphysis may be associated with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis.
Ding
Wen-Ge
WG
Department of Orthopaedics, Changzhou No. 1 People's Hospital, Changzhou, China.
Wei
Zhao-Xiang
ZX
Liu
Jin-Bo
JB
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D055806:Microvessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013977:Tibia / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A