title: Raccoon dog model shows preservation of bone during prolonged catabolism and reduced physical activity.
abstract: The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a promising animal model capable of preventing disuse-induced osteoporosis. Previous data suggest that this species resembles bears in the preservation of bone mass and biomechanical properties during prolonged passivity and catabolism. This longitudinal study examined the osteological properties of tibiae in farm-bred raccoon dogs that were either fed or fasted (n=6 per group) for a 10 week period. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography was utilized and plasma markers of bone turnover measured before fasting and at 9 weeks followed by mechanical testing (three-point bending), micro-computed tomography and Fourier transform infrared imaging at 10 weeks. Passive wintering with prolonged catabolism (body mass loss 32%) had no significant effects on bone mineralization, porosity or strength. The concentration of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, indicative of bone resorption, increased in the plasma of the fasted raccoon dogs, while the bone formation markers were unchanged. The levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were reduced in the fasted animals. Based on these data, the preservation of bone in wintering raccoon dogs shares characteristics with that of bears with no apparent decrease in the formation of bone but increased resorption. To conclude, raccoon dogs were able to minimize bone loss during a 10 week period of catabolism and passivity.
authors.affiliation: University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine/Anatomy, PO Box 1627, Kuopio FI-70211, Finland Anne-Mari.Mustonen@uef.fi.|University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Science and Forestry, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, PO Box 111, Joensuu FI-80101, Finland.
authors.forename: Anne-Mari J
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2266-2518
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mustonen
authors.affiliation: University of Oulu, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, PO Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland.|University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Science and Forestry, Department of Applied Physics, PO Box 1627, Kuopio FI-70211, Finland.|Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland.
authors.forename: Mikko A J
authors.initials: MAJ
authors.lastname: Finnilä
authors.affiliation: NordLab Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 500, Oulu FI-90029, OYS, Finland.|University of Oulu, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, PO Box 8000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland.
authors.forename: Katri S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Puukka
authors.affiliation: University of Oulu, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, PO Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland.|Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland.|Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 50, Oulu FI-90029, Finland.
authors.forename: Timo J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Jämsä
authors.affiliation: University of Oulu, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, PO Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland.|Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland.|Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 50, Oulu FI-90029, Finland.
authors.forename: Simo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saarakkala
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland.|University of Oulu, Faculty of Medicine, Research Group of Cancer Research and Translational Medicine, PO Box 5000, Oulu FI-90014, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tuukkanen
authors.affiliation: University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine/Anatomy, PO Box 1627, Kuopio FI-70211, Finland.|University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Science and Forestry, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, PO Box 111, Joensuu FI-80101, Finland.
authors.forename: T Petteri
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Nieminen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D046031:Raccoon Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Bone mineral density; Bone turnover markers; Catabolism; Fasting; Fourier transform infrared imaging; Hibernation; Nyctereutes procyonoides