Osteopenia Model Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a chronic, disabling disease of high prevalence in elderly people, particularly women. Its prevalence is becoming very relevant as baby-boomers reach retirement age and as life expectancy increases. Valid animal models are essential to evaluate bone active drugs for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis.
Miniature swine present several attractive features to the osteoporotic scientist.
They are polyestrous, omnivorous, small in body size, and have lamellar bone and trabecular and cortical remodeling similar to humans. In addition, the anatomy and physiology of several miniature swine organ systems such as skin, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and urogenital systems are very similar to humans. The reduction in trabecular bone and the alteration in microstructure appeared primarily due to trabecular perforation. The perforation of trabecular elements occurred in the face of exaggerated resorptive cell function at the level of the remodeling unit. A similar pathogenesis for the microstructural changes occurring in women around menopause has recently been proposed.