Perspectives of pQCT technology associated to biomechanical studies in skeletal research employing rat models

Assessment of bone material quality and architectural indicators by means of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) offers a wide perspective for skeletal research employing noninvasive procedures. Some mechanically-validated examples of these pQCT applications in animal models are described. They concern (a) the analysis of bone mechanostatical interrelationships as shown by experimental “distribution/quality” curves, and (b) the noninvasive determination of bone strength. An attractive attempt to extrapolate the latter to human bone studies is also discussed.