Comparative characteristics of changes in subchondral bone of rats after antenatal glucocorticoid administration and modeling of osteoporosis

Background. Osteoporosis is a progressive systemic bone disease that results in decreased bone mineral density and, as a result, increases the risk of bone fractures. Changes that occur in the subchondral bone in osteoporosis or because of hormones can cause degenerative changes in the articular cartilage that underlie osteoarthritis. Objective. The aim of the study was to identify and compare morphological changes that occur in the subchondral bone in experimental simulations of osteoporosis and in adult rats that were born from females that were exposed to glucocorticoid solution administration in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Methods. Tibias of 26 white mature laboratory rats were studied. In serial sections, the relative areas occupied by bone trabeculae and lacunae were calculated. Results. The relative area involving the bone trabeculae (23,2 ± 3,70%) statistically significantly decreased at 21 day in the group of animals that undergone a simulation of osteoporosis in comparison with the control group. Similar changes are observed in the group of experimental animals that were born from females that were exposed to glucocorticoid solution administration in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Conclusion. Thus, the results of the study demonstrate the similarity of morphological changes occurring in the subchondral bone in rats that undergone a simulation of osteoporosis and rats that were born from females that were exposed to glucocorticoid solution administration in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.