BONE CALCIUM CONTENT AND BIOMECHANICS IN A SPONTANEOUS HYPERTENSIVE NIH CORPULENT RAT (SHR/N-CP)/

This study was undertaken to determine the calcium content and bone bi omechanics in SHR/N-cp rat. Obese and lean male SHR/N-cp rats were giv en diets containing either 54% sucrose or starch or a combination of 1 8% sucrose pills 36% starch for a period of 8 months. Urinary calcium, magnesium and phosphorus levels were greater in obese rats than in le an rats and were exaggerated by the 54% sucrose diet, Obese rats had s ignificantly shorter and smaller femurs, lower breaking strength, and lower bone calcium and magnesium concentrations than lean littermates. No significant diet effect was observed on any of the bone parameters . Obese SHR/N-cp rats appear to have disorders with bone growth, which may be useful for understanding of altered bone metabolism in the dia betic state.