Comparison of dosage-dependent effects of β-aminopropionitrile, sodium fluoride, and hydrocortisone on selected physical properties of cortical bone

Abstract

BAPN, sodium fluoride, and hydrocortisone are reported to induce altered mineralization states. Three separate sets of experiments, one set for each agent, were performed using male New Zealand white rabbits. In each experiment the rabbits were segregated into groups, each fed a specified weight-determined dose for 13 weeks and then sacrificed. Compact bone from the left femur and tibia were tested for density, composition, sonic velocity, longitudinal elastic modulus, equatorial diffraction spacing of mineralized collagen, diaphyseal cross-sectional area, and relative load stress. β-Aminopropionitrile (BAPN) induced monotonic degradation of all properties at all dose levels, corresponding to the decreasing density with dosage level. The elastic moduli show a decrease; the equatorial diffraction spacing of the collagen increases. The cross-sectioned diaphysis resembled woven bone. The variability in properties increased with dosage. The total cross-sectional area for a given weight increased, implying that the decreased elastic properties were compensated for by a larger area to support the weight. There was a slight increase in average density and other properties for fluoride-treated rabbits, peaking at 20 mg/kg BW/day. For higher dosages the properties are degraded and the values were much lower at high fluoride dosages than for BAPN. There was no peak for the equatorial diffraction spacing, which increased with dosage. It is inferred that the fluorosed apatite is denser than normal apatitic mineral and therefore has a smaller specific volume. A greater weight fraction of fluorosed mineral has a smaller volume fraction than the equivalent normal apatitic mineral. The bone sections look more normal, except for the porosis. The total cross-sectional area decreases when the bone density increases and then increases as the density falls, again implying that the area required to support body weight depends on the magnitude of the elastic moduli. There was a small change in some of the properties of the bones of the hydrocortisone-treated rabbits, but the effects on others were undetectable within the uncertainty of the procedures. There was no change in the cross-sectional areas of the diaphyses.