Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1933647 | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications | 2009 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
We have reported that the posterior pituitary hormone, oxytocin (OT), known for its effects in inducing parturition, lactation and social bonding, is also a skeletal hormone. Here, we demonstrate that OT plays a key role in enabling maternal skeletal mobilization during pregnancy by enhancing the formation of bone resorbing osteoclasts. Osteoclast formation ex vivo is thus diminished in pregnant mothers with genetic OT-deficiency. OT−/− pups at day E20 also show a defect in trabecular bone. μCT measurements reveal normal bone volume, but increased trabecular numbers, suggesting that trabeculae in OT−/− pups are hypomineralized. We suggest that OT facilitates intergenerational transfer of calcium ions from a pregnant mother to the pups.
Related Topics
Life Sciences
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Biochemistry
Authors
Xuan Liu, Kengo Shimono, Ling-Ling Zhu, Jianhua Li, Yuanzhen Peng, Aliza Imam, Jameel Iqbal, Surinder Moonga, Graziana Colaianni, Cai Su, Zuhong Lu, Masahiro Iwamoto, Maurizio Pacifici, Alberta Zallone, Li Sun, Mone Zaidi,