Effect of induced uterine retroversion on bone mass in rats.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of surgical uterine retroversion on bone mass in rats.

STUDY DESIGN

Forty-five female Wistar rats were assigned randomly to three groups: 15 unmanipulated rats, 15 rats that underwent uterine retroversion, and 15 rats that underwent sham uterine retroversion (exposure of the uterus to air followed by closure of the abdominal cavity). Sixty days later the rats were killed and their femurs were dissected. Femurs were weighed and measured, and femoral bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

In the group of rats that underwent uterine retroversion, BMC, BMD, and BMC corrected for final body weight were significantly lower (P<0.001) than in the unmanipulated control and sham uterine retroversion groups.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that uterine retroversion induced a loss of bone mass. We could not determine the mechanism of bone loss; in our opinion, these problem merits further investigations, which currently occupy our interest.