Prediction of Cortical Bone Thickness Variations in the Tibial Diaphysis of Running Rats

• Published in: Life (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 12; no. 2; p. 233
• Main Authors: George, Daniel, Pallu, Stéphane, Bourzac, Céline, Wazzani, Rkia, Allena, Rachele, Rémond, Yves, Portier, Hugues
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 03-02-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Animal models; Biology; Biomechanics; Biomedical materials; Bone density; Bones; cell activity; Cortical bone; Diaphysis; Engineering Sciences; Evolution; Exercise intensity; experimental validation; Experiments; Fitness equipment; Gravity; Load; Mathematical models; mechanical modeling; Mechanical properties; Mechanics; Numerical models; Numerical prediction; Parameter identification; Physical fitness; Predictions; rat; Running; Thickness; treadmill running; Variation; France; Paris France; mechanical modeling; treadmill running; rat; experimental validation; bone density; cell activity
• ISSN: 2075-1729; 2075-1729
• DOI: 10.3390/life12020233

A cell-mechanobiological model is used for the prediction of bone density variation in rat tibiae under medium and high mechanical loads. The proposed theoretical-numerical model has only four parameters that need to be identified experimentally. It was used on three groups of male Wistar rats under sedentary, moderate intermittent and continuous running scenarios over an eight week period. The theoretical numerical model was able to predict an increase in bone density under intermittent running (medium intensity mechanical load) and a decrease of bone density under continuous running (higher intensity mechanical load). The numerical predictions were well correlated with the experimental observations of cortical bone thickness variations, and the experimental results of cell activity enabled us to validate the numerical results predictions. The proposed model shows a good capacity to predict bone density variation through medium and high mechanical loads. The mechanobiological balance between osteoblast and osteoclast activity seems to be validated and a foreseen prediction of bone density is made available.