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Aluminium (Al) is a common constituent in many consumer products, from food and drinks to hygiene products and medicines. Consequently, it is present in many of our most basic daily necessities. Al tends to primarily accumulate in bone tissue, however, there is a knowledge gap regarding its effects during the bone formation period. According to Marques et al. (2022), Al intake during the neonatal period induces bone changes similar to osteoporosis. To investigate the impact of Al exposure during this period, this study employed X-ray microtomography to analyze the tibiae microstructure of two Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). The animals were selected from two primary groups within the study conducted by Marques et al. (2022). From postnatal days 1 to 15, the control group received a saline solution, while the Al group was treated with an AlCl3 solution. All procedures were conducted in accordance with the guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals and were approved by the local Animal Use Ethics Committee (CEUA/UFG, protocol no. 100/19). Analysis focused on two distinct regions: the proximal trabecular bone and the cortical bone at the tibial diaphysis. The volumes of interest (VOI) consisted of a 2 mm diameter by 2 mm height cylinder for the trabecular bone and a 2 mm long cylindrical segment for the cortical bone. Groups were compared based on the determination of BV/TV (bone volume/tissue volume), Tb.Th (trabecular thickness), Tb.Sp (trabecular spacing), Ct.Th (cortical thickness), Co.Po (cortical porosity), and Ct.np (cortical number of pores). Apart from the minor variations observed in cortical parameters (Ct.Th, Co.Po, and Ct.np), there are significant differences in trabecular parameters (BV/TV, Tb.Th, and Tb.Sp). This difference is illustrated in the following Figure, which displays the BV/TV of each group calculated for every 2D slice along the selected VOI. The reference slice (0 mm) was defined as the first slice immediately distal to the epiphyseal cartilage valley. Lower BV/TV values are evident in the Al group, and they decrease progressively with increasing depth. For comparative purposes, the average BV/TV was calculated over a depth interval of 0 mm to 1.2 mm for both groups. Some of the 2D slices are shown in the graph alongside their corresponding depths within the VOI. The trabecular microstructural differences found between the groups indicate that Aluminium exposure impairs the internal architecture of bone during development.
| References | (1) Marques, M.R., de Assis, P.H.G., Azeredo, P.S., Fleury, J.A., Costa, J.R., Gomes, L.S., et al. (2022). Aluminum intake in the neonatal phase disrupts endochondral ossification in rodents. J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol. 72:126962. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2022.126962 (2) Marques, M.R., Moreira A.C., Manotvani I.F., Brito P.V.A., Nascimento I.C.G.S., et al. (2026) Aluminum impairs cellular ultrastructure and bone microarchitecture in newborn rats. Frontiers in Imaging. 5:1725794. doi: 10.3389/fimag.2026.1725794 |
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| Country | Brazil |
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