Abstract
Osteocytes, the most abundant cell type in bone, play a crucial role in mechanosensation and signaling for bone formation and resorption. These cells reside within a complex lacuno-canalicular network (OLCN). Osteocyte signaling is reduced under diabetic conditions, and both type 1 and type 2 diabetes lead to reduced bone turnover, perturbed bone composition, and increased fracture risk. We hypothesized that this reduced bone turnover, and altered bone composition with diabetes is associated with reduced OLCN architecture and connectivity. This study aimed to elucidate: (1) the sequence of OLCN changes with diabetes related to bone turnover and (2) whether changes to the OLCN are associated with tissue composition and mechanical properties. Twelve- to fourteen-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were administered streptozotocin at 50 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days to induce hyperglycemia, sacrificed at baseline (BL), or after being diabetic for 3 (D3) and 7 (D7) wk with age-matched (C3, C7) controls (n = 10-12 per group). Mineralized femoral sections were infiltrated with rhodamine, imaged with confocal microscopy, then the OLCN morphology and topology were characterized and correlated against bone histomorphometry, as well as local and whole-bone mechanics and composition. D7 mice exhibited a lower number of peripheral branches relative to C7. The total number of canalicular intersections (nodes) was lower in D3 and D7 relative to BL (P < 0.05 for all), and a reduced bone formation rate (BFR) was observed at D7 vs C7. The number of nodes explained only 15% of BFR, but 45% of Ct.BV/TV, and 31% of ultimate load. The number of branches explained 30% and 22% of the elastic work at the perilacunar and intracortical region, respectively. Collectively, the reduction in OLCN architecture and association of OLCN measures with bone turnover, mechanics, and composition highlights the relevance of the osteocyte and the OLCN and a potential therapeutic target for treating diabetic skeletal fragility.