title: Cortical bone is more sensitive to alcohol dose effects than trabecular bone in the rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While chronic alcohol consumption is known to decrease bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and negatively modify trabecular bone microarchitecture, the impact of alcohol on cortical microarchitecture is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of various doses of alcohol on bone density, trabecular and cortical parameters and bone strength in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (C), alcohol 25% v/v (A25), alcohol 30% v/v (A30) and alcohol 35% v/v (A35). Rats in the alcohol groups were fed a solution composed of ethanol and water for 17 weeks while the control group drank only water. Bone quality and quantity were evaluated through the analysis of density, trabecular and cortical bone microarchitectural parameters, osteocalcin and N-Telopeptide concentrations and a 3-point bending test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bone density along with trabecular and cortical thickness were lower in alcohol groups compared to C. BMD was lower in A35 vs. A30 and cortical thickness was lower in A35 vs. A25 and A30. Pore number was increased by alcohol and the porosity was greater in A35 compared to C. N-Telopeptide concentration was decreased in alcohol groups compared to control whereas no differences were observed in osteocalcin concentrations. Maximal energy to failure was lower in A25 and A35 compared to C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic ethanol consumption increases cortical bone damage in rats and may have detrimental effects on bone strength. These effects were dose-dependent, with greater negative effects proportionate to greater alcohol doses.
authors: IPROS, Unité Inserm U658, Caractérisation du Tissu Osseux par Imagerie: Techniques et Applications, Hôpital Porte-Madeleine, 1 rue Porte-Madeleine, BP 2439, 45032 Orléans cedex 01, France. db.maurel@gmail.com
authors: Delphine B
authors: DB
authors: Maurel
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Boisseau
authors: Claude-Laurent
authors: CL
authors: Benhamou
authors: Christelle
authors: C
authors: Jaffré
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D015675:Osteocalcin; D000431:Ethanol