Bone Abstracts

The aim of the study was to evaluate interrelationships between morphometric, densitometric and mechanical properties of mandible in Polish Merino sheep. Males (n=7) were kept to slaughter age of 5 months of life to obtain mandible. After the slaughter, morphological properties of the mandible such as bone weight and length were determined. Using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) technique and Somatom Emotion, Siemens apparatus, volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) of the cortical bone (Cd), mean volumetric bone mineral density (MvBMD) and total bone volume (Bvol) of whole mandible were measured. Using an INSTRON 3367 apparatus (Instron, USA) and three-point bending test, mechanical parameters such as maximum elastic strength (Wy) and ultimate strength (Wf) of mandible were estimated. Furthermore, serum concentration of bone specific alkaline-phosphatase (BAP) and IGF1 in 5-month-old sheep were measured. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) was determined between all the investigated variables and P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Statistically significant positive correlations of mandible weight with length, Bvol, Cd and Wf were stated (P<0.05). Mandible length was significantly correlated with Bvol and Cd (P<0.05). Bvol was found to be positively correlated with Cd and Wf (P<0.05). Positive correlation of Wy and Wf was found and both these parameters were positively correlated with Cd (all P<0.05). In conclusion, this study showed numerous positive correlations between densitometric, morphometric and mechanical properties of mandible. Thus, mandible in sheep may be used as an attractive model for further studies on metabolic response of skeleton to physiological, nutritional, toxicological and pharmacological factors influencing bone tissue metabolism.