Effect of alcohol on biochemical properties and thermal stability of weight bearing bones in male Wistar rats

Abstract

Alcohol consumption poses significant risk for osteoporosis development. The present study deals with changes in biochemical properties and thermal stability of weight bearing bones in alcohol noshed rats. About 48 male Wistar rats were equally divided into control (Gr. I) and treatment groups Gr. II-IV) subjected to 10, 20 and 30% ethanol administration, respectively. At the end of study, rats were sacrificed by decapitation under deep anesthesia and tibiae and fibulae bones were resected and used for biochemical (DNA, RNA, proteins and ash/inorganic minerals concentration) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Administration of ethanol at higher doses (Gr. III & IV) had depressing effects on the nucleic acids and protein concentrations. The inorganic mineral content was also found to be lesser than that of control. The TGA revealed an increasing %weight loss in Gr. III and IV. This increase in %weight loss is due to decrease in mineral content causing calcification of bones and resulting in osteoporosis. The present study provides an insight that chronic consumption of alcohol negatively affects the biochemical properties and stability of bones, augmenting risks of osteoporotic fractures. However, at lower doses, alcohol administration may be helpful in bestowing thermal strength to bones.