Relationship between age, skeletal site, and time post‐ovariectomy on bone mineral and trabecular microarchitecture in rats

Abstract The ovariectomized (OVX) rat is widely used in osteoporosis research, but no standard model exists. The individual effects of rat age, skeletal site, and time post‐ovariectomy (post‐OVX) on bone have been examined. However, the relationship between them is not yet fully explored. This study examined how various combinations of rat age, skeletal site, and time post‐OVX affect bone mineral and microarchitecture. The rats used were 12 ( n = 28), 24 ( n = 28), and 44 ( n = 31) weeks old. In each age group, approximately half underwent OVX and other half underwent Sham surgeries. Bone mineral (content and density) and trabecular morphology was assessed at 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 weeks post‐surgery. Sites examined included the proximal tibia, spine, distal femur, and proximal femur. Overall, the proximal tibia showed the earliest and greatest differences between OVX and Sham groups. The 24‐week‐old group showed the best osteoporotic response. The 12‐week‐old group showed growth effects, whilst the 44‐week‐old group showed aging effects. The response of certain sites to OVX was also found to depend on the rat age used. These findings may aid in explaining discrepancies reported in the literature as well as synergistic combinations that may signify advanced conditions. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:189–196, 2011