title: Morphological, densitometric and mechanical properties of mandible in 5-month-old Polish Merino sheep.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among bones building the axial and appendicular skeleton, the mandible is characterized by unique morphological and functional traits. The aim of the study was to evaluate morphological, densitometric and mechanical properties of mandible in 5-month-old Polish Merino sheep. Using quantitative computed tomography, volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and calcium hydroxyapatite density of the cortical bone (CbCa-HA), mean vBMD (MvBMD) and total bone volume were determined. Using computed tomography cross-sectional scans of the mandible, cross-sectional area, second moment of inertia, mean relative wall thickness and cortical index were determined. Three-point bending test was applied to determine mechanical properties. Serum concentration of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) was also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the investigated morphometric, densitometric and mechanical parameters of the right and left mandibular halves were not significantly different (P > 0.05). There was no correlation of final body weight, MvBMD, CbCa-HA, BAP and IGF-I with all the analyzed parameters of mandible (P > 0.05). However, positive correlations between the other investigated morphometric, densitometric and mechanical parameter of mandible were found (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relationships between morphological, densitometric and mechanical parameters of the mandible indicate that the elaborated experimental model may serve for further studies on metabolic responses of skeletal system to physiological, nutritional, pharmacological, toxicological and environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Medical University in Lublin, ul. Karmelicka 7, 20-081, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szabelska
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, ul. Akademicka 12, 20-950, Lublin, Poland. matatar99@gazeta.pl.
authors.forename: Marcin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tatara
authors.affiliation: II Department of Radiology, Medical University in Lublin, ul. Staszica 16, 20-081, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krupski
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D012756:Sheep / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Animal model; Mandible; Quantitative computed tomography (QCT); Sheep; Volumetric bone mineral density