Comparison of bone density measurement techniques: Dexa and archimedes principle

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-1996

Abstract

Density (g/cm3) of bones from small animals is routinely determined using Archimedes principle (Archp). Use of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for this procedure has been impractical due to lack of appropriate software. In recent years, software has been developed for the determination of density (g/on) of small animal bones with DEXA. We used Archp and DEXA (Hologic QDR-2000) to measure the densities of whole and hollowed femurs of retired breeder rats (5-6 mo) from both a low-vitamin D and a supplemental-vitamin D colony. Whole femur densities were higher for supplemental-vitamin D rats than for low-vitamin D rats using both techniques (Archp, p=.002; DEXA, p=.005), and the densities from the two techniques were highly correlated (r = .82, p=.0001). The actual values were higher for Archp than for DEXA. Other variables such as femur ash wt and Ca content were also highly correlated to densities with both techniques. Hollowed femur density values were increased compared to whole femurs using Archp, but decreased when using DEXA. Colony effects for hollowed femur densities, compared to whole femur densities, were diminished with Archp (p= .03), and eliminated for DEXA (p= .53). Use of whole bones is more biologically relevant and both techniques were equally effective in detecting density differences between whole femurs from low-vitamin D and supplemental-vitamin D colony rats.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

FASEB Journal

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