Anat Cell Biol.  2020 Jun;53(2):162-168. 10.5115/acb.19.189.

Three-dimensional microstructures of the intracortical canals in the animal model of osteoporosis

• Lee SH
• Kim JN
• Shin KJ
• Koh KS
• Song WC

• KMID: 2503446
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.19.189

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a major disease in aged women, increasing the risk for fractures accompanied by changes in the microarchitecture. The aim of this study was to investigate the three-dimensional (3D) histomorphology of femur diaphysis in the animal model for postmenopausal osteoporosis. The cortical bone of femur diaphysis of the rat was serially sectioned at a thickness of 5 μm and evaluated age-associated changes of the intracortical (osteonal) canal networks three-dimensionally. Cortical microstructures of 10-month old rats were not affected by ovariectomy. Intracortical canal networks were radial toward endosteal aspect and frequently interconnected across the neighboring canals with short arciform and irregular canals reminiscent for resorption spaces in ovarectomized 16-month old rats, contrary to intact canals in 16-month old control rat. Increased proportion of the periosteal circumference lamella and deformed endosteal regions with rare cortical canals hampered reconstructive histomorphology in ovarectomized rats of 26 month age. We have shown that 3D reconstruction of rat femur of the aged model over 16-month old is suitable methods that evaluate and microstructural change of the intracortical canals and cortical bone porosity by estrogen depletion.

Keyword

Intracortical canal; Femur; Three-dimensional reconstruction; Osteoporosis; Ovariectomy

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Specimens subjected to histomorphologic evaluation. (A) Significant weight gain of OVX group compared to the CON rat. (B) Scheme of the preparation of rat femur. The section planes for anterolateral aspect of a femur (dotted box) and the references for mid-diaphysis (lined box). A, anterior; CON, control; L, lateral; M, medial; mc, marrow cavity; OVX, ovariectomized; P, posterior.

• 

  Fig. 2 A histological section of 10-month old control rat. (A) Osteons (black arrows) were concentrated in the mid-cortical area (H&E, ×200). (B) Magnification of osteon with lacuna (red arrows) (H&E, ×100). Periosteal circumference lamella (black arrows). c, mid-cortical area; e, endothelial aspect; o, osteon; p, periosteal aspect.

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  Fig. 3 Changes of cortical microstructures in 16 months’ rats. (A) Cross section of the rat femur stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Compared to a CON rat, oval osteons toward endosteal aspect and coarse compact cancellous bone with unorganized tissues (yellow asterisks) are evident in an OVX rat (H&E, ×200). (B) Lateral views of the 3-dimensional structure of the cortical canal networks. Cortical canals are pre-dominantly separated and longitudinal in the entire area in a CON rat. In an OVX rat, radial canals adjacent to the endosteal region were convoluted and closely connected each other or disconnected (yellow arrows), while that of the periosteal region was straight. (C) Superior views of the 3-dimensional structure. The canal openings faced the marrow cavity much more than the periosteum. Osteonal canals with dichotomous branching oriented obliquely toward the endosteal aspect. All images have the same magnification. CON, control; e, endothelial aspect; OVX, ovariectomized; p, periosteal aspect.

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  Fig. 4 An age-related cortical bone loss coupled with the expansion of the medullary cavity and thickened periosteal circumference lamella in rats of 26-month old (H&E, ×200). Reduced volume of mid-cortical area in a CON rat (green arrows). Disorganized mid-cortical area and irregular endosteal surface with resorption cavities (red arrows), trabeculae (black arrows), and thickened periosteal circumference lamella (asterisk) in an OVX rat. CON, control; OVX, ovariectomized.

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  Fig. 5 Scheme of cross sections of femur diaphysis with aging and estrogen depletion. Decreased volume of the cortical bone (yellow) and the thickened periosteal circumference lamella (green) with aging resulted in the expansion of the marrow cavity and reduced dimension of the cortical stroma. Endosteal erosion of mid-cortical area hardened with the ovariectomy and menopause. c, mid-cortical area; mc, marrow cavity; pcl, periosteal circumference lamella.

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