Effects of unilateral sciatic neurectomy in rat on bone mineral density of femur and tibia

ObjectiveTo determine the effects of unilateral sciatic neurectomy(USN) on hind leg bone mineral density (BMD), BMD were measured by a peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), and the correlation data were analyzed, which will provide the reference for the research on disused osteoporosis. Methods SD rats (2 months, female) were used, and divided into two groups: USN-operated and sham-operated, and performed under anesthesia. Body weight was scaled weekly, and the rats were sacrificed after 6 weeks. BMD on femur and tibia were measured by pQCT at 3.0 and 12.0 mm from the proximal epiphysis.ResultsFor both USN-operated and sham-operated group, except 1 st week, the increasing rate for the body weight of rat was similar to that of age growth;The leg' muscular atrophy with paralysis showed significantly, and total BMD of femur and tibia markedly decreased in USN-operated group. The BMD of right hind leg is obviously different from that of left hind leg in cancellous bone (P0.01).ConclusionsThe pQCT can sensibly discern various regions of skeletal changes 6 weeks after unilateral sciatic neurectomy.