Bone Abstracts

The aim of the study was to evaluate relationships between morphometric, densitometric and mechanical properties of tibiotarsus in ostriches (Struthio camelus). 14-month-old males (N=15) and females (N=31) were slaughter to obtain left tibiotarsus. Using computed tomography technique (Somatom Emotion scaner, Siemens), volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) of the trabecular (Td) and cortical bone (Cd), mean voulmetric bone mineral density (MvBMD) and cortical bone area (CBA) were measured. Calcium hydroxyapatite density of the trabecular bone (TbCa-HA) and cortical bone (CbCa-HA) were determined using 10-mm thick epiphyseal and middiaphyseal scans and Osteo CT application package. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method. Using three-point bending test (INSTRON 3367 apparatus, Instron, USA), ultimate strength (Wf) of tibiotarsus was determined. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) was determined between all the investigated variables. P<0.05 was statistically significant. Positive correlations of the final body weight with bone weight and BMC of tibiotarsus were found, while body weight was negatively correlated with relative bone weight (RBW) (P<0.05). Bone length was positively correlated with bone weigth, RBW and BMC, while bone weight was positively correlated with RBW, BMC, CBA and Wf (P<0.05). BMD was positively correlated with BMC, CBA, MvBMD, Td and Wf, while BMC was positively correlated with CBA and Wf (P<0.05). CBA was negatively correlated with Cd and positively correlated with Wf (P<0.05). MvBMD was positively correlated with Cd, CbCa-HA and Wf, while Cd was positively correlated with Td, CbCa-HA and TbCa-HA (P<0.05). Positive correlation of Td and TbCa-HA was found (P<0.05).

In conclusion, this study showed numerous interrelationships between morphometric, densitometric and mechanical properties of tibiotarsus in ostrich. Tibiotarsus may be used as an attractive experimental model for further studies on metabolic response of skeleton to physiological, nutritional, toxicological and pharmacological factors influencing bone tissue metabolism.