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Oxytocin deficiency impairs maternal skeletal remodeling

  • 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

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)161-166
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume388
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 9 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bone density
  • Osteoblast
  • Osteoclast
  • Pituitary hormones

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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