Therefore, we herein studied fracture healing in female and male senescence-accelerated osteoporotic mice, strain P6 (SAMP6), including biomechanical, histomorphometric, and protein biochemical analysis.
Bending stiffness was reduced in male and female SAMP6 mice compared with senescence-resistant strain 1 (SAMR1) controls. This was associated with elevated serum concentrations of tartrate-resistent acid phosphatase form 5b (TRAP) in both female and male SAMP6 mice. Callus size, however, was significantly larger in female SAMP6 mice compared with male SAMP6 mice and female SAMR1 controls. This indicates a delayed remodeling process in female SAMP6 mice. The delay of callus remodeling in female SAMP6 mice was associated with a significantly higher osteoprotegerin (OPG) callus tissue expression and increased serum concentrations of osteocalcin (OC) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD), indicating elevated osteoblast and osteoclast activities.
The present study shows that remodeling during fracture healing in female, but not in male, SAMP6 mice is delayed, most probably due to an increased osteoblast and osteoclast activity.