Variations in trabecular bone composition with anatomical site and age: potential implications for bone quality assessment

Abstract

Skeletal site-related differences in trabecular bone composition have been studied in autopsy samples from 63 individuals (age range 23-92 years). From each individual, bone samples were excised from the iliac crest, lumbar spine, femoral neck, and calcaneus. Samples were analyzed for their content of ash, calcium, collagen, extractable proteins, osteocalcin, and IGF-I. Significant differences were found between the skeletal sites, the lumbar spine being the least mineralized site and the femur the most. The femur and lumbar spine had a higher osteocalcin and IGF-I content compared with the other skeletal sites, suggesting a higher bone turnover rate. The intercorrelations between the anatomical sites were low for minerals and collagen but high for osteocalcin and IGF-I. The latter might indicate that the presence of these proteins in the bone matrix is mainly controlled by endocrine mechanisms which may influence the osteoblast function. Finally, regression analysis showed a significant age-related decrease of skeletal IGF-I at all sites examined. This finding supports the hypothesis of an IGF-I-mediated pathogenesis of senile osteoporosis. In summary, our data imply that a global assessment of skeletal function and bone quality, based upon analyses at one anatomical site, should be applied with caution.

Regional differences in architecture and mineralization of developing mandibular bone

“…The values for ash fraction in the newborns closely matches the values found in postnatal and adult specimens of bone of different species (Biltz and Pellegrino, 1969;Wong et al, 1985;Aerssens et al, 1997;van der Harst et al, 2004) and developing cranial bones of humans (Kriewall et al, 1981). The calcium and phosphorus content in the newborn corpus approaches the values normally obtained for stoichiometric hydroxyapatite (Dyson and Whitehouse, 1968).…”

“…Therefore, it is a major determinant of its mechanical properties. Studies have been performed using ashed bone samples to investigate the mineral composition of cortical (Biltz and Pellegrino, 1969;Pugliarello et al, 1973;Driessens et al, 1986;Aerssens et al, 1998) as well as trabecular bone (Gong et al, 1964;Dyson and Whitehouse, 1968;Wong et al, 1985;Aerssens et al, 1997;van der Harst et al, 2004) from a wide variety of species and anatomical locations.…”

Characterization of Bone and Bone-Based Graft Materials Using FTIR Spectroscopy

“…Even though bones possess various sizes and shapes, they share general chemical and structural features that, despite a static appearance on adult vertebrates, vary with and within species (Gamsjaeger et al, 2010;Mkukuma et al, 2004). In fact, among similar individuals, bone properties change with age, nutrition, hormonal equilibrium and health condition, in addition to other factors such as biomechanical environment (Aerssens et al, 1997;Fratzl et al, 2004). These variations are relatively restricted due to the constant remodelling processes that re-establish equilibrium.…”

Proton Induced X-ray Emission Study on the Content of Whale Tooth

“…Because of this, studies of agerelated bone loss have focused mainly upon women, although osteoporosis is a significant health problem in men. However, after the middle age, both men and women begin to lose bone mass as a normal part of aging, through an imbalance of the remodeling process [10]. As a result, bones become larger, heavier, and denser [11].…”