Osteoporosis prevention in an extraordinary hibernating bear

Seth W Donahue; Samantha J Wojda; Meghan E McGee-Lawrence; Janene Auger; Hal L Black

doi:10.1016/j.bone.2021.115845

Osteoporosis prevention in an extraordinary hibernating bear

Bone. 2021 Apr:145:115845. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.115845. Epub 2021 Jan 13.

Authors

Seth W Donahue¹, Samantha J Wojda², Meghan E McGee-Lawrence³, Janene Auger⁴, Hal L Black⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States of America. Electronic address: swdonahue@umass.edu.
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States of America.
³ Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, United States of America.
⁴ Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, United States of America.
⁵ Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, United States of America.

PMID: 33450432
DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.115845

Abstract

Disuse osteoporosis results from physical inactivity. Reduced mechanical loading of bone stimulates bone resorption leading to bone loss, decreased mechanical properties, and increased fracture risk. Compensatory mechanisms evolved in hibernators to preserve skeletal muscle and bone during the prolonged physical inactivity that occurs during annual hibernation. This paper reports the preservation of bone properties in an exceptionally old black bear that was physically inactive for about 6 months annually for 31 years. The biological mechanisms that preserve bone during prolonged disuse during hibernation are also reviewed.

Keywords: Bone adaptation; Bone remodeling; Disuse osteoporosis; Hibernation.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bone Density
Bone and Bones
Hibernation*
Osteoporosis* / prevention & control
Ursidae*