title: Tensile properties of rat femoral bone as functions of bone volume fraction, apparent density and volumetric bone mineral density.
abstract: Mechanical testing has been regarded as the gold standard to investigate the effects of pathologies on the structure-function properties of the skeleton. Tensile properties of cancellous and cortical bone have been reported previously; however, no relationships describing these properties for rat bone as a function of volumetric bone mineral density (ρ(MIN)), apparent density or bone volume fraction (BV/TV) have been reported in the literature. We have shown that at macro level, compression and torsion properties of rat cortical and cancellous bone can be well described as a function of BV/TV, apparent density or ρ(MIN) using non-destructive micro-computed tomographic imaging and mechanical testing to failure. Therefore, the aim of this study is to derive a relationship expressing the tensile properties of rat cortical bone as a function of BV/TV, apparent density or ρ(MIN) over a range of normal and pathologic bones. We used bones from normal, ovariectomized and osteomalacic animals. All specimens underwent micro-computed tomographic imaging to assess bone morphometric and densitometric indices and uniaxial tension to failure. We obtained univariate relationships describing 74-77% of the tensile properties of rat cortical bone as a function of BV/TV, apparent density or ρ(MIN) over a range of density and common skeletal pathologies. The relationships reported in this study can be used in the structural rigidity to provide a non-invasive method to assess the tensile behavior of bones affected by pathology and/or treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Orthopaedic Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. anazaria@bidmc.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nazarian
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Araiza Arroyo
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: Shima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aran
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Snyder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D005269:Femur / Q000502:physiology*; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D051381:Rats; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed