Effects of Strontium in the Bone Density of Mice

Presenter Information

Nathaniel Gonzales, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Kali Trukki, Minnesota State University, MankatoFollow

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

9-4-2012 10:00 AM

End Date

9-4-2012 11:30 AM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

Michael Bentley

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

Dietary strontium is readily incorporated into bone tissue of rodents. In prior studies dietary strontium has been shown to inhibit calcium metabolism and has further been shown to prevent osteopenia in ovariectomized rats. In the present study, we evaluate changes in bone density of mice receiving low calcium diet and strontium chloride in the drinking water. The study includes 4 groups of male mice (5 in each group): Group 1, low calcium chow and strontium chloride in the drinking water; Group 2, low calcium chow and distilled drinking water; Group 3, low calcium chow and calcium chloride in the drinking water; Group 4, normal calcium chow and strontium chloride in the drinking water. The mice are weighed by group on a weekly basis to document weight gain and consumption of water and chow. After two months of the water and diet regimen the mice will be euthanized by carbon dioxide inhalation and the long bones will be dissected for analysis with a JEOL 6510 scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with a Thermo Noran silicon-drift energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) system. This system provides a means to measure strontium, calcium, phosphorous, and other mineral elements in bone tissue. We anticipate finding strontium incorporation and increased bone density in the mice that are on the strontium chloride water regimen. We do not anticipate finding any increase of bone density in the mice that are on the calcium chloride water regimen.