Short-term exercise-induced improvements in bone properties are for the most part not maintained during aging in hamsters

• Effect of voluntary exercise on bone properties during hamster growth was studied.
• Both mineralized and organic components showed improvement after exercise.
• Trabecular microstructure showed improved properties due to exercise at young age.
• Improved bone properties were for most not maintained during aging of the hamsters.

Physical exercise during growth affects composition, structure and mechanical properties of bone. In this study we investigated whether the beneficial effects of exercise during the early growth phase have long-lasting effects or not.Female Syrian golden hamsters (total n = 152) were used in this study. Half of the hamsters had access to running wheels during their rapid growth phase (from 1 to 3 months of age). The hamsters were sacrificed at the ages of 1, 3, 12, and 15 months. The diaphysis of the mineralized humerus was analyzed with microCT and subjected to three-point-bending mechanical testing. The trabecular bone in the tibial metaphysis was also analyzed with microCT. The collagen matrix of the humerus bone was studied by tensile testing after decalcification.The weight of the hamsters as well as the length of the bone and the volumetric bone mineral density (BMDvol) of the humerus was higher in the running group at the early age (3 months). Moreover, the mineralized bone showed improved mechanical properties in humerus and had greater trabecular thickness in the subchondral bone of tibia in the runners. However, by the age of 12 and 15 months, these differences were equalized with the sedentary group. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of decalcified humerus were higher in the runners at early stage, indicating a stronger collagen network. In tibial metaphysis, trabecular thickness was significantly higher for the runners in the old age groups (12 and 15 months).Our study demonstrates that physical exercise during growth improves either directly or indirectly through weight gain bone properties of the hamsters. However, the beneficial effects were for the most part not maintained during aging.