Swimming Activity Prevents the Unloading Induced Loss of Bone Mass, Architecture, and Strength in Rats

Description and Analysis of Horse Swimming Strategies in a U-Shaped Pool

Aquatic training has been integrated into equine rehabilitation and training programs for several decades. While the cardiovascular effects of this training have been explored in previous studies, limited research exists on the locomotor patterns exhibited during the swimming cycle. This study aimed to analyze three distinct swimming strategies, identified by veterinarians, based on the propulsion phases of each limb: (S1) two-beat cycle with lateral overlap, (S2) two-beat cycle with diagonal overlap, and (S3) four-beat cycle. 125 underwater videos from eleven horses accustomed to swimming were examined to quantify the differences in locomotor patterns between these strategies. Initially, a classifier was developed to categorize 125 video segments into four groups (CatA to CatD). The results demonstrated that these categories correspond to specific swimming strategies, with CatA aligning with S1, CatB with S2, and CatC and CatD representing variations of S3. This classification highlights that two key parameters, lateral and diagonal ratios, are indeed effective in distinguishing between the different swimming strategies. Additionally, coordination patterns were analyzed in relation to these swimming strategies. One of the primary findings is the variability in swimming strategies both within and between individual horses. While five horses consistently maintained the same strategy throughout their swimming sessions, six others exhibited variations in their strategy between laps. This suggests that factors such as swimming direction, pauses between laps, and fatigue may influence the selection of swimming strategy. This study offers new insights into the locomotor patterns of horses during aquatic training and has implications for enhancing the design of rehabilitation protocols.

Does Swimming Exercise Impair Bone Health? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing the Evidence in Humans and Rodent Models

BACKGROUND

The effect of swimming on bone health remains unclear, namely due to discrepant findings between studies in humans and animal models.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to identify the available evidence on the effects of swimming on bone mass, geometry and microarchitecture at the lumbar spine, femur and tibia in both humans and rodent animal models.

METHODS

The study followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered at PROSPERO (CRD4202236347 and CRD42022363714 for human and animal studies). Two different systematic literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, retrieving 36 and 16 reports for humans and animal models, respectively.

RESULTS

In humans, areal bone mineral density (aBMD) was similar between swimmers and non-athletic controls at the lumbar spine, hip and femoral neck. Swimmers' tibia diaphysis showed a higher cross-sectional area but lower cortical thickness. Inconsistent findings at the femoral neck cortical thickness were found. Due to the small number of studies, trabecular microarchitecture in human swimmers was not assessed. In rodent models, aBMD was found to be lower at the tibia, but similar at the femur. Inconsistent findings in femur diaphysis cross-sectional area were observed. No differences in femur and tibia trabecular microarchitecture were found.

CONCLUSION

Swimming seems to affect bone health differently according to anatomical region. Studies in both humans and rodent models suggest that tibia cortical bone is negatively affected by swimming. There was no evidence of a negative effect of swimming on other bone regions, both in humans and animal models.

Impact of Long-Term Swimming Exercise on Rat Femur Bone Quality

Considering the conflicting evidence regarding the potential long-term detrimental effect of swimming during growth on femur quality and fracture risk, our aim was to investigate the effect of eight months of swimming on femur quality. Twenty male eight-week-old Wistar rats were assigned into a swimming (SW; n = 10; 2 h/day, 5 days/week) or active control group (CG; n = 10, housed with running wheel) for eight months. Plasma osteocalcin and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen concentrations (ELISA) were assessed at baseline, four, and eight months of protocol. Femur structure (micro-computed tomography), biomechanical properties (three-point bending), and cellular density (histology) were determined after the protocol. SW displayed a lower uncoupling index, suggesting higher bone resorption, lower empty lacunae density, cortical and trabecular femur mass, femur length and cortical thickness, and higher cortical porosity than CG (p < 0.05). Although both biomarkers' concentrations decreased in both groups throughout the experiment (p < 0.001), there were no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). No differences were also found regarding biomechanical properties, bone marrow adiposity, and osteocyte and osteoclast densities (p > 0.05). Long-term swimming was associated with unbalanced bone turnover and compromised femur growth, lower femur mass, and deteriorated cortical bone microarchitecture. However, femur trabecular microarchitecture and biomechanical properties were not affected by swimming.

TNF-α-TNFR1 Signaling Mediates Inflammation and Bone Resorption in Apical Periodontitis

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the proinflammatory axis TNF-α-TNFR1 in experimentally induced periapical inflammation and bone resorption in mice.

METHODS

After receiving Ethics Committee Approval (2019.1.139.58.0), experimental apical periodontitis was induced by means of inoculating oral microorganisms into the root canals of molars of mice. Genetically deficient tumor necrosis factor-α receptor-1 mice (TNFR1-/-; n = 50) response was compared with that of C57Bl6 wild-type mice (wild-type; n = 50) after 7, 14, 28, and 42 days. The analyses performed were micro-computed tomographic, histopathologic, histomicrobiological, and histometric evaluation, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed by using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey or Bonferroni tests (α = 5%).

RESULTS

TNFR1-/- mice exhibited lower recruitment of neutrophils at 14, 28, and 42 days (P < .05), which resulted in reduced area and volume of apical periodontitis at 42 days (P < .05). The number of osteoclasts was also lower in TNFR1-/- animals at 14 and 42 days (P < .01), along with reduced synthesis of CTSK, MMP-9, and COX-2. Expression of RANKL, but not OPG, was reduced at 14 and 42 days (P < .001). The highest RANKL expression over OPG (ratio > 1) was found in wild-type animals at 7 (P < .0001) and 42 days (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Periapical inflammation and bone resorption were exacerbated in wild-type animals compared with TNFR1-/- mice, demonstrating that the TNF-α-TNFR1 signaling pathway mediated catabolic events in bone after root canal contamination.

Physiotherapeutic Protocol and ZnO Nanoparticles: A Combined Novel Treatment Program against Bacterial Pyomyositis

Myositis tropicans or pyomyositis is a muscle inflammation resulting from a bacterial infection of skeletal muscle (commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus) that usually leads to hematogenous muscle seeding. The present study was designed to estimate the role of ZnO-NPs and a physiotherapeutic program in the management of induced biceps femoris atrophy in rats through histological, biochemical, and radiological examinations at different time intervals. At the beginning, several bacterial strains were evaluated through a proteolytic enzyme activity assay and the highest activity was recorded with the Staphylococcus aureus strain. ZnO-NPs were synthesized with the arc discharge method with an average size of 19.4 nm. The antibacterial activity of ZnO-NPs was investigated and it was revealed that the prepared ZnO-NPs showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 8 µg/mL against the tested bacterium. The cytotoxicity of the prepared ZnO-NPs was tested in C2C12 myoblast cells, and it was elaborated that CC50 was 344.16 µg/mL. Biceps femoris pyomyositis was induced with a potent strain (Staphylococcus aureus); then, a physiotherapeutic program combined with the prepared ZnO-NPs treatment protocol was applied and evaluated. The combined program claimed antibacterial properties, preventing muscle atrophy, and resulted in the most comparable value of muscle mass.

Effects of Different Types of Mechanical Loading on Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture in Rats

Mechanical loading is generally considered to have a positive impact on the skeleton; however, not all types of mechanical loading have the same beneficial effect. Many researchers have investigated which types of mechanical loading are more effective for improving bone mass and strength. Among the various mechanical loads, high-impact loading, such as jumping, appears to be more beneficial for bones than low-impact loadings such as walking, running, or swimming. Therefore, the different forms of mechanical loading exerted by running, swimming, and jumping exercises may have different effects on bone adaptations. However, little is known about the relationships between the types of mechanical loading and their effects on trabecular bone structure. The purpose of this article is to review the recent reports on the effects of treadmill running, jumping, and swimming on the trabecular bone microarchitecture in small animals. The effects of loading on trabecular bone architecture appear to differ among these different exercises, as several reports have shown that jumping increases the trabecular bone mass by thickening the trabeculae, whereas treadmill running and swimming add to the trabecular bone mass by increasing the trabecular number, rather than the thickness. This suggests that different types of exercise promote gains in trabecular bone mass through different architectural patterns in small animals.

Kinematic Analysis During Straight Line Free Swimming in Horses: Part 1 - Forelimbs

Background: Swimming is used for rehabilitation and conditioning purposes in equine sports medicine despite the lack of understanding of equine swimming kinematics. The aim of this study was to assess forelimb joints kinematics (elbow, carpus, and fetlock) in swimming horses. The specific objectives were 1- to calculate and compare joint angles in swimming vs. passive mobilizations (PM), 2- to determine joint angular velocities during a swimming stride cycle. Methods: Eleven elite endurance horses swam in a 100-m straight pool. Underwater (swimming) and overground (PM) videos were recorded from the horses' left side. Joint markers were applied on the lateral hoof wall, lateral metacarpal epicondyle, ulnar carpal bone, lateral humeral epicondyle, and the greater tubercle of humerus, from which elbow, carpus and fetlock angles, and angular velocities were obtained. As a reference, maximal fetlock, carpus, and elbow flexion/extension angles were determined during PM overground. Differences between angle extrema, angular velocities and range of motion (ROM) were compared. Results: Carpus and fetlock ROM were significantly smaller (p < 0.001) during swimming when compared with PM, while there was no difference in elbow ROM between both situations. The carpus had the greatest ROM of all joints during swimming. Absolute angular velocities values of all joints during swimming were greater during retraction than protraction (p < 0.001). When compared to other joints during protraction, the carpus joint reached the highest angular velocity. Conclusion: Swimming, as a rehabilitation exercise, has the potential to benefit horses where great elbow ROM with a moderate carpus and fetlock extension are wanted.

Effects of mild hyperbaric oxygen on osteoporosis induced by hindlimb unloading in rats

INTRODUCTION

Disuse-induced bone loss is caused by a suppression of osteoblastic bone formation and an increase in osteoclastic bone resorption. There are few data available for the effects of environmental conditions, i.e., atmospheric pressure and/or oxygen concentration, on osteoporosis. This study examined the effects of mild hyperbaric oxygen at 1317 hPa with 40% oxygen on unloading-induced osteoporosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen 8-week old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: the control for 21 days without unloading and mild hyperbaric oxygen (NOR, n = 6), the unloading for 21 days and recovery for 10 days without mild hyperbaric oxygen (HU + NOR, n = 6), and the unloading for 21 days and recovery for 10 days with mild hyperbaric oxygen (HU + MHO, n = 6).

RESULTS

The cortical thickness and trabecular bone surface area were decreased in the HU + NOR group compared to the NOR group. There were no differences between the NOR and HU + MHO groups. Osteoclast surface area and Sclerostin (Sost) mRNA expression levels were decreased in the HU + MHO group compared to the HU + NOR group. These results suggested that the loss of the cortical and trabecular bone is inhibited by mild hyperbaric oxygen, because of an inhibition of osteoclasts and enhancement of bone formation with decreased Sost expression.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that exposure to mild hyperbaric oxygen partially protects from the osteoporosis induced by hindlimb unloading.

Protective Effects of Controlled Mechanical Loading of Bone in C57BL6/J Mice Subject to Disuse

Prolonged reduction in weightbearing causes bone loss. Disuse of bone is associated with recovery from common musculoskeletal injury and trauma, bed rest resulting from various medical conditions, and spaceflight. The hindlimb‐suspension rodent model is popular for simulating unloading and disuse. We hypothesized that controlled mechanical loading of the tibia would protect against bone loss occurring from concurrent disuse. Additionally, we hypothesized that areas of high mechanical peak strains (midshaft) would provide more protection than areas of lower strain (distal shaft). Adult C57BL6/J mice were suspended for 3 weeks, with one limb subjected to tibial compression four times per week. μCT imaging was completed at days 0, 11, and 21, in addition to serum analysis. Significant bone loss caused by hindlimb suspension was detected in trabecular bone by day 11 and worsened by day 21 (p < 0.05). Bone loss was also detected in cortical thickness and area fraction by day 21. However, four short bouts per week of compressive loading protected the loaded limb from much of this bone loss. At day 21, we observed a 50% loss in trabecular bone volume/total volume and a 6% loss in midshaft cortical thickness in unloaded limbs, but only 15% and 2% corresponding losses in contralateral loaded limbs (p = 0.001 and p = 0.02). Many bone geometry parameters of the loaded limbs of suspended animals did not significantly differ from non‐suspended control limbs. Conversely, this protective effect of loading was not detected in cortical bone at the lower‐strained distal shaft. Analysis of bone metabolism markers suggested that the benefits of loading occurred through increased formation instead of decreased resorption. This study uniquely isolates the role of externally applied mechanical loading of the mouse tibia, in the absence of muscle stimulation, in protecting bone from concurrent disuse‐related loss, and demonstrates that limited bouts of loading may be highly effective during prolonged disuse. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

The Effects of Hind Limb Suspension and Cast Mediated Immobilization on Bone Strength Properties

Astronauts and patients on bedrest are subject to a combination of bone strength losses and muscle atrophy due to microgravity and unloading. In this study, mice were subject to both hind limb suspension and cast mediated immobilization. Pre-treatment and post-treatment microCT scans were utilized to create finite element models. Both pre-treatment and posttreatment scans were then cropped, rotated and threedimensional image registration was performed to eliminate inconsistency in alignment. A hexahedral finite element mesh was then generated from this 3D data. Finite element analysis was conducted to perform simulated physiological loading of the femoral neck to assess bone strength through bone structural morphology. Hind limb suspension combined with Cast Mediated Immobilization caused a 7.9% decrease in bone FEA stiffness compared to the in-vivo pre-treatment control. No differences were found in bone volume or structural efficiency.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and aerobic exercise synergistically protect against liver injury in ovariectomized rats

Menopause increases the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated the effect of incretin and/ or exercise on the hepatic fat accumulation in ovariectomized rats. Rats were divided into five groups: Group 1: Control rats, Group 2: Ovariectomized rats, Group 3: Ovariectomized rats + Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPPi) (30 mg/kg/day, orally), Group 4: Ovariectomized rats + swimming, and Group 5: Ovariectomized rats + swimming + DPPi. After 6 weeks, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glucose, insulin, HOMA IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance), FFA (free fatty acids), Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α), IL6, IL1B levels were measured in blood. The livers were collected for Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) examination and evaluation of hepatic gene expression of SREBP (sterol regulatory element-binding protein1c), PPAR α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha), ACC 1 (acetyl-CoA carboxylase), LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3), SIRT (sirtuin), hepatic triglycerides, IL6, IL10, caspase 3 and AMPK (adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase). A significant increase in ALT level and area of liver tissue defects with a significant increase in glucose HOMA IR, serum FFA, IL6, IL1B, TNF α, liver TGs (triglycerides), inflammation, apoptosis, SREBP1c, ACC1 were found in ovariectomized rats as compared to control group with a significant decrease in PPAR α, LC3, AMPK and SIRT1. DPPi treated rats with and without exercise showed a significant improvement in ALT and area of liver tissue defects, inflammation and apoptosis and serum IL6, IL1B, TNF α, FFA, liver LC3, SIRT1, AMPK, TGs, PPAR α, ACC1 and SREBP1c as compared to the ovariectomized group. Findings from the study confirm the derangement of fat metabolism in the ovariectomized rats and showed that incretin-based therapy and exercise synergistically improved liver fat metabolism, achieved significant beneficial metabolic effects and offer full protection against NAFLD.

Compromised Exercise Capacity and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Murine (oim) Mouse Model

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heritable connective tissue disorder that most often arises from type I collagen-COL1A1 and COL1A2-gene defects leading to skeletal fragility, short stature, blue-gray sclera, and muscle weakness. Relative to the skeletal fragility, muscle weakness is much less understood. Recent investigations into OI muscle weakness in both patients and mouse models have revealed the presence of an inherent muscle pathology. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for OI muscle weakness is critical, particularly in light of the extensive cross-talk between muscle and bone via mechanotransduction and biochemical signaling. In the following study we initially subjected WT and oim/oim mice, modeling severe human OI type III, to either weight-bearing (voluntary wheel-running) or non-weight-bearing (swimming) exercise regimens as a modality to improve muscle strength and ultimately bone strength. The oim/oim mice ran only 35% to 42% of the distance run by age- and sex-matched WT mice and exhibited little improvement with either exercise regimen. Upon further investigation, we determined that oim/oim gastrocnemius muscle exhibited severe mitochondrial dysfunction as characterized by a 52% to 65% decrease in mitochondrial respiration rates, alterations in markers of mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and the electron transport chain components, as well as decreased mitochondrial citrate synthase activity, relative to age- and sex-matched WT gastrocnemius muscle. Thus, mitochondrial dysfunction in the oim/oim mouse likely contributes to compromised muscle function and reduced physical activity levels. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

X-ray microtomography system for small and light samples using a flat panel detector

A low-cost system able to perform microtomography of samples such as teeth, insects, or other small materials and low atomic numbers is presented. For this, a small flat panel type sensor was used. The process of characterization of the detector is detailed, as well as its main characteristics. The electromechanical control and the software used are also described. The advantages, some limitations, and comparisons with commercial systems are presented along with some three-dimensional volumetric reconstruction of different materials that served as samples during the development of the system.

Chronic Psychosocial Stress Impairs Bone Homeostasis: A Study in the Social Isolation Reared Rat

Chronic psychosocial stress is a key player in the onset and aggravation of mental diseases, including psychosis. Although a strong association between this psychiatric condition and other medical co-morbidities has been recently demonstrated, few data on the link between psychosis and bone homeostasis are actually available. The aim of this study was to investigate whether chronic psychosocial stress induced by 4 or 7 weeks of social isolation in drug-naïve male Wistar rats could alter bone homeostasis in terms of bone thickness, mineral density and content, as well as markers of bone formation and resorption (sclerostin, cathepsin K, and CTX-I). We found that bone mineral density was increased in rats exposed to 7 weeks of social isolation, while no differences were detected in bone mineral content and area. Moreover, 7 weeks of social isolation lead to increase of femur thickness with respect to controls, suggesting the development of a hyperostosis condition. Isolated rats showed no changes in sclerostin levels, a marker of bone formation, compared to grouped animals. Conversely, bone resorption markers were significantly altered after 7 weeks of social isolation in terms of decrease in cathepsin K and increase of CTX-I. No alterations were found after 4 weeks of isolation rearing. Our observations suggest that chronic psychosocial stress might affect bone homeostasis, more likely independently from drug treatment. Thus, the social isolation model might help to identify possible new therapeutic targets to treat the burden of chronic psychosocial stress and to attempt alternative therapy choices.