Appearance of Blood Vessels of Bone of Male Mice with Reduced Testosterone Levels

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

20-4-2015 10:00 AM

End Date

20-4-2015 11:30 AM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

Michael Bentley

Mentor's Email Address

michael.bentley@mnsu.edu

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

Bone is highly vascular and the maintenance of bone tissue and strength is dependent on blood supply. Reduced estrogen levels in post-menopausal women have links to osteoporotic activity in bone. However, little is known about the regulatory activity of testosterone in osteoporosis in males. The purpose of this research is to visualize changes in the appearance of blood vessels in bones as a result of the reduced testosterone levels post castration. To further understand more about osteoporosis in males, we experimented on C57BL6 strain of mice, an inbred strain, and observed the changes in the surface of cell linings in the blood vessels (endothelium) and the changes in the distribution of blood vessels in the bone tissues. We did the study using six non-castrated male mice as control group and six other mice, surgically castrated, for the experimental group. Having anesthetized the castrated mice, infused 0.9% saline solution in the vascular system and euthanizing them by exsanguination and infusion of 3% gluteraldehyde fixative solution, we were able to examine the vasculature of the long bones (the humerus and femur) via scanning electron microscopy. Our findings indicate that the endothelium in the castrated mice was altered. Through characterizing the vascular network in bone of male mice after reducing the biologically natural levels of testosterone, this research suggests that osteoporosis may be linked to lower levels of testosterone in males.

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Apr 20th, 10:00 AM Apr 20th, 11:30 AM

Appearance of Blood Vessels of Bone of Male Mice with Reduced Testosterone Levels

CSU Ballroom

Bone is highly vascular and the maintenance of bone tissue and strength is dependent on blood supply. Reduced estrogen levels in post-menopausal women have links to osteoporotic activity in bone. However, little is known about the regulatory activity of testosterone in osteoporosis in males. The purpose of this research is to visualize changes in the appearance of blood vessels in bones as a result of the reduced testosterone levels post castration. To further understand more about osteoporosis in males, we experimented on C57BL6 strain of mice, an inbred strain, and observed the changes in the surface of cell linings in the blood vessels (endothelium) and the changes in the distribution of blood vessels in the bone tissues. We did the study using six non-castrated male mice as control group and six other mice, surgically castrated, for the experimental group. Having anesthetized the castrated mice, infused 0.9% saline solution in the vascular system and euthanizing them by exsanguination and infusion of 3% gluteraldehyde fixative solution, we were able to examine the vasculature of the long bones (the humerus and femur) via scanning electron microscopy. Our findings indicate that the endothelium in the castrated mice was altered. Through characterizing the vascular network in bone of male mice after reducing the biologically natural levels of testosterone, this research suggests that osteoporosis may be linked to lower levels of testosterone in males.

Recommended Citation

Vincent, Thomas. "Appearance of Blood Vessels of Bone of Male Mice with Reduced Testosterone Levels." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 20, 2015.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2015/poster_session_A/5