Reduced Bone Perfusion in Osteoporosis: Likely Causes in an Ovariectomy Rat Model

Purpose: To investigate the cause of reduced vertebral perfusion in a rat ovariectomy model. Materials and Methods: Experimental protocol was approved by the local Animal Experiment Ethics Committee. Twenty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. Computed tomographic bone densitometry and magnetic resonance perfusion imaging were performed at baseline and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after ovariectomy (n = 11) or sham surgery (n = 11). Perfusion parameters analyzed were maximum enhancement (E-max) and enhancement slope (E-slope). After the animals were sacrificed, the aorta and femoral artery were analyzed for vessel reactivity, and the lumbar vertebrae were analyzed for marrow content. Results: In control rats, bone mineral density (BMD), E-max, and E-slope remained constant. In ovariectomy rats, a comparable reduction in BMD and the perfusion parameters at two weeks post-ovariectomy (BMD, 9.3%; E-max, 11.6%; E-slope, 9%) was seen 2 weeks after ovariectomy, and further reductions were seen 4 weeks (BMD, 17.5%; E-max, 15.6%; E-slope, 33%) and 8 weeks (BMD, 18.8%; E-max, 14.2%; E-slope, 33%) after ovariectomy. Endothelial dysfunction was observed in both the aorta and femoral artery of the ovariectomy group but not of the control group. Increased marrow fat area was seen in the ovariectomy group (52.9% vs 21.6%; P < .01) owing to an increase in fat cell number. Decreased erythropoetic marrow area (32.5% vs 48.6%; P < .05) was also observed in the ovariectomy group. Conclusion: Reduced bone perfusion occurs in synchrony with reduced BMD. The most likely causes of reduced bone perfusion are a reduction in the amount of erythropoetic marrow and endothelial dysfunction after ovariectomy. (C) RSNA, 2010