The effects of simvastatin on the bone microstructure and mechanics of ovariectomized mice: a micro-CT and micro-finite element analysis study

• Published in: BMC musculoskeletal disorders Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 748 - 9
• Main Authors: Liang, Yanbo, Yuan, Xiaoqing, Dai, Xiaoxue, Zhang, Guohui, Li, Changqin, Yang, Hui, Zhang, Tingting, Qin, Jian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 18.09.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Animals; Antilipemic agents; Biomechanical Phenomena - drug effects; Bone density; Bone Density - drug effects; Bone microstructure; Bone mineral density; Bone turnover; Bones; Cancellous bone; Comparative analysis; Computed tomography; CT imaging; Deformation; Density; Disease Models, Animal; Drug therapy; Estrogens; Female; Finite Element Analysis; Finite element method; Health aspects; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Laboratory animals; Lumbar Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging; Lumbar Vertebrae - drug effects; Mechanical properties; Medical imaging; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Micro-finite element; Microstructure; Oophorectomy; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - diagnostic imaging; Osteoporosis - drug therapy; Osteoporosis - prevention & control; Ovariectomy; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Post-menopause; Postmenopausal women; Shear stress; Simvastatin; Simvastatin - pharmacology; Software; Testing; Vertebrae; Women; X-Ray Microtomography; China; Osteoporosis; Micro-finite element; Bone microstructure; Simvastatin
• ISSN: 1471-2474; 1471-2474
• DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07860-w

Osteoporosis is a major health concern for postmenopausal women, and the effect of simvastatin (Sim) on bone metabolism is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effect of simvastatin on the bone microstructure and bone mechanical properties in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. 24 female C57BL/6J mice (8-week-old) were randomly allocated into three groups including the OVX + Sim group, the OVX group and the control group. At 8 weeks after operation, the L4 vertebral bones were dissected completely for micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT) scanning and micro-finite element analysis (µFEA). The differences between three groups were compared using ANOVA with a LSD correction, and the relationship between bone microstructure and mechanical properties was analyzed using linear regression. Bone volume fraction, trabecular number, connectivity density and trabecular tissue mineral density in the OVX + Sim group were significantly higher than those in the OVX group (P < 0.05). For the mechanical properties detected via µFEA, the OVX + Sim group had lower total deformation, equivalent elastic strain and equivalent stress compared to the OVX group (P < 0.05). In the three groups, the mechanical parameters were significantly correlated with bone volume fraction and trabecular bone mineral density. The findings suggested that simvastatin had a potential role in the treatment of osteoporosis. The results of this study could guide future research on simvastatin and support the development of simvastatin-based treatments to improve bone health.