Effects of Nutritional Deficiency of Boron on the Bones of the Appendicular Skeleton of Mice

Abstract

Scientific evidence has shown the nutritional importance of boron (B) in the remodeling and repair of cancellous bone tissue. However, the effects of the nutritional deficiency of B on the cortical bone tissue of the appendicular skeleton have not yet been described. Thus, a study was performed to histomorphometrically evaluate the density of osteocyte lacunae of cortical bone of mouse femora under conditions of nutritional deficiency of B and to analyze the effects of the deficiency on the biomechanical properties of mouse tibiae. Weaning, 21-day-old male Swiss mice were assigned to the following two groups: Controls (B+; n = 10) and Experimental (B-; n = 10). Control mice were fed a basal diet containing 3 mg B/Kg, whereas experimental mice were fed a B-deficient diet containing 0.07 mg B/Kg for 9 weeks. The histological and histomorphometric evaluations of the mice fed a B-deficient diet showed a decrease in the density of osteocyte lacunae in the femoral cortical bone tissue and the evaluation of biomechanical properties showed lower bone rigidity in the tibia.

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