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BONE MINERAL DENSITY AND COMPOSITION IN RAT PREGNANCY: EFFECTS OF STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES MELLITUS AND INSULIN REPLACEMENT

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2001

M. S. C. TEIN ,
S. A. BREEN ,
B. E. LOVEDAY ,
H. DEVLIN ,
R. J. BALMENT ,
R. D. H. BOYD ,
C. P. SIBLEY  and
H. O. GARLAND
M. S. C. TEIN
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
S. A. BREEN
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiovascular & Musculoskeletal Research, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
B. E. LOVEDAY
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiovascular & Musculoskeletal Research, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
H. DEVLIN
Affiliation:
Department of Dental Medicine & Surgery, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
R. J. BALMENT
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
R. D. H. BOYD
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
C. P. SIBLEY
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
H. O. GARLAND
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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Abstract

A disturbed calcium homeostasis characterizes diabetic pregnancy. This study documents changes in bone mineral composition in diabetic pregnant rats and examines the effect of insulin replacement. Control pregnant (CP), diabetic pregnant (DP) and insulin-treated DP (DPi) rats were assessed for femoral calcium and magnesium content, bone mineral density (BMD) and the ratio of hypertrophic to maturing and proliferative cells in the femoral growth plate. DP rats showed a significantly (P < 0·01) lower body weight, femoral weight and length than CP rats. Femoral calcium and magnesium content was also significantly (P < 0·05) lower in DP rats, as was ash weight. When calcium and magnesium were normalized for ash weight no signficant differences were apparent. A significantly (P < 0·05) lower total BMD at the distal femur was seen in DP rats. This comprised a significantly (P < 0·01) lower trabecular BMD with no significant change in cortical BMD. A significantly (P < 0·05) higher ratio of hypertrophic to maturing and proliferative cells of the femoral growth plate was evident in DP animals. DPi rats showed normal blood glucose concentrations and femoral growth plate histology. DPi rats also showed normal femoral weight and length but only partially restored femoral ash weight and mineral content. Insulin failed to normalize total or trabecular BMD. Diabetes mellitus clearly has a marked effect on bone growth and mineral content in pregnancy which may be relevant to overall calcium homeostasis. The lower bone growth, bone calcium content and trabecular BMD may be unfortunate consequences of the marked hypercalciuria reported elsewhere in diabetes and may serve to maintain normocalcaemia in the disease.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Physiology , Volume 83 , Issue 2 , March 1998 , pp. 165 - 174
Copyright
The Physiological Society 1998

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