Osiak-Wicha Cezary, Tomaszewska Ewa, Muszyński Siemowit, Flis Marian, Arciszewski Marcin B
Department of Animal Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Akademicka 12, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Akademicka 12, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Jun 23;13(13):2077. doi: 10.3390/ani13132077.
Lagomorphs, which include hares, rabbits, and pikas, are herbivorous animals renowned for their exceptional running abilities. The femur, the largest and strongest bone in their bodies, plays a crucial role in supporting their weight and facilitating movement. This study aimed to investigate the structural and functional changes in the femora of hares during their development in a sex-dependent manner, and the influence of aging on femur structure and function. Various mechanical properties, including stiffness and strength, as well as densitometry and morphology, were evaluated. The study was conducted on = 24 hares collected from a hunting district in the Lublin region of Poland and divided into four groups: young females, adult females, young males and adult males ( = 6 animals each). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD), and a three-point bending test was performed to assess mechanical properties. The findings revealed age-related differences in bone properties, with adult males exhibiting increased BMC, and BMD compared to young males. Geometrical properties of the femora mid-diaphysis, such as cortical index and cross-sectional area, remained relatively unchanged during maturation. Regarding mechanical properties, the femora of young males exhibited higher elastic work compared to those of young females, while the femora of adult males exhibited higher elastic and breaking work than those of adult females. The stiffness of femora was higher in adult females compared to young females. The results provide insights into the development and aging of hare femora and contribute to our understanding of the relationship between bone mechanical properties, musculoskeletal system, and aging in the wild. This knowledge can inform animal husbandry practices in captivity and enhance our broader understanding of the ecological functions of lagomorphs.
兔形目动物包括野兔、家兔和鼠兔，是食草动物，以其出色的奔跑能力而闻名。股骨是它们体内最大、最强壮的骨头，在支撑体重和促进运动方面起着至关重要的作用。本研究旨在以性别依赖的方式调查野兔股骨在发育过程中的结构和功能变化，以及衰老对股骨结构和功能的影响。评估了包括刚度和强度在内的各种力学性能，以及骨密度测定和形态学。该研究对从波兰卢布林地区一个狩猎区收集的24只野兔进行，分为四组：年轻雌性、成年雌性、年轻雄性和成年雄性（每组6只动物）。采用双能X线吸收法（DXA）测量骨矿物质含量（BMC）和骨矿物质密度（BMD），并进行三点弯曲试验以评估力学性能。研究结果揭示了骨特性的年龄相关差异，成年雄性的BMC和BMD高于年轻雄性。股骨中骨干的几何特性，如皮质指数和横截面积，在成熟过程中相对保持不变。在力学性能方面，年轻雄性的股骨比年轻雌性的股骨表现出更高的弹性功，而成年雄性的股骨比成年雌性的股骨表现出更高的弹性功和断裂功。成年雌性的股骨刚度高于年轻雌性。这些结果为野兔股骨的发育和衰老提供了见解，并有助于我们理解野生环境中骨力学性能、肌肉骨骼系统和衰老之间的关系。这些知识可以为圈养动物的饲养管理提供参考，并加深我们对兔形目动物生态功能的更广泛理解。
