Bone Effects of Binge Alcohol Drinking Using Prepubescent Pigs as a Model

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough chronic alcohol consumption in adults is an established risk factor for osteoporotic fractures, there is a huge gap in our knowledge about bone effects of binge drinking in adolescents. The aim of this pilot study was therefore to assess skeletal effects of binge alcohol drinking using prepubescent pigs as a large animal model.MethodsPiglets aged 2 months were offered alcohol orally as a mixture of hard liquor and apple juice. Those with the highest propensity to drink alcohol were included in the experiment and received 1.4 g alcohol/kg bodyweight 2 times per week for 2 months (alcohol group); control piglets received apple juice in an identical manner. At the age of 4 months, the animals were euthanized; trabecular and cortical bone samples from the femur, the tibia, the humerus, and the fourth vertebral body harvested during necropsy were assessed by microcomputed tomography and dynamic histomorphometry. In addition, blood chemistry and blood alcohol determinations were performed.ResultsBlood alcohol levels assessed 1 hour after alcohol administration were 0.99‰ ± 0.15, 1.12‰ ± 0.2, and 1.14‰ ± 0.18 at the ages of 2, 3, and 4 months, respectively. In the alcohol group, serum calcium and phosphate levels were decreased. In the femur, trabecular number and connectivity density were lower in the alcohol than in the control group, and in the humerus and the fourth vertebral bodies, an opposite pattern was seen for trabecular number and connectivity density, respectively. Cortical density was higher in the humerus and trabecular density higher in the tibia of the alcohol group compared to the control group. Cortical porosity was lower in the humerus of the alcohol group. No significant differences were seen for trabecular thickness, trabecular separation, bone volume fraction, and static and dynamic histomorphometric parameters.ConclusionsIn this pilot study, we have assessed skeletal effects of binge alcohol drinking by using prepubescent pigs as a promising large animal model. Binge drinking has bone effects that are site‐specific. However, these data have to be verified in a larger study population.

Are pigs a suitable model species for osteoporosis research?

“…On the other hand, bone architecture and metabolism clearly react to osteoimmunological measures as expected at least in adolescent commercial pigs, as shown for OPG [9]. Our group used this observation to test pigs aged 2-4 months as a model for a type of secondary osteoporosis, namely alcohol-induced osteoporosis [10]. In this model we observed the effects of voluntary alcohol binge-drinking on bone.…”

The Teratogenic Effect of Diethylene Glycol (Deg) on Fetus Morphology in White Mice (Mus Musculus L.)

“…Abnormalities that occur in the fetus are thought to occur due to the accumulation of diethylene glycol which is an agent that causes hypoxia. Diethylene glycol in the placenta causes nutritional barriers from the mother to the fetus due to the lack of oxygen needed for organ development, including mineral materials for bone growth (ossification) or the bone hardening process (calcification) [23].…”

<b><i>Nothobranchius furzeri,</i></b> the Turquoise Killifish: A Model of Age-Related Osteoporosis?

“…For methyl methacrylate embedding decalcification is not necessary. The samples were infiltrated, polymerized, and embedded as described previously [13]. Sectioning was performed with the Microtome Microm HM355S (Thermo Scientific) using specific knifes for hard materials like bones.…”

“…For osteoporosis research, traditionally rodent models such as ovariectomized rats and mice, spontaneously aged rats, or mouse models of accelerated aging are used [8][9][10][11]. As an alternative to rodent models, large animal models (pig, sheep) and fish models (Danio rerio, zebrafish) were described [12][13][14].…”