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.
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
