Double disruption of α2A‐ and α2C ‐adrenoceptors results in sympathetic hyperactivity and high‐bone‐mass phenotype

TL Fonseca, V Jorgetti, CC Costa… - Journal of Bone and …, 2011 - academic.oup.com
TL Fonseca, V Jorgetti, CC Costa, LP Capelo, AE Covarrubias, AC Moulatlet, MB Teixeira…
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2011academic.oup.com
Evidence demonstrates that sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation causes
osteopenia via β2‐adrenoceptor (β2‐AR) signaling. Here we show that female mice with
chronic sympathetic hyperactivity owing to double knockout of adrenoceptors that negatively
regulate norepinephrine release, α2A‐AR and α2C‐AR (α2A/α2C‐ARKO), present an
unexpected and generalized phenotype of high bone mass with decreased bone resorption
and increased formation. In α2A/α2C‐ARKO versus wild‐type (WT) mice, micro–computed …
Abstract
Evidence demonstrates that sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation causes osteopenia via β2‐adrenoceptor (β2‐AR) signaling. Here we show that female mice with chronic sympathetic hyperactivity owing to double knockout of adrenoceptors that negatively regulate norepinephrine release, α2A‐AR and α2C‐AR (α2A2C‐ARKO), present an unexpected and generalized phenotype of high bone mass with decreased bone resorption and increased formation. In α2A2C‐ARKO versus wild‐type (WT) mice, micro–computed tomographic (µCT) analysis showed increased, better connected, and more plate‐shaped trabeculae in the femur and vertebra and increased cortical thickness in the vertebra, whereas biomechanical analysis showed increased tibial and femoral strength. Tibial mRNA expression of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) and receptor activator of NF‐κB (RANK), which are osteoclast‐related factors, was lower in knockout (KO) mice. Plasma leptin and brain mRNA levels of cocaine amphetamine–regulated transcript (CART), which are factors that centrally affect bone turnover, and serum levels of estradiol were similar between mice strains. Tibial β2‐AR mRNA expression also was similar in KO and WT littermates, whereas α2A‐, α2B‐ and α2C‐AR mRNAs were detected in the tibia of WT mice and in osteoblast‐like MC3T3‐E1 cells. By immunohistochemistry, we detected α2A‐, α2B‐, α2C‐ and β2‐ARs in osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and chondrocytes of 18.5‐day‐old mouse fetuses and 35‐day‐old mice. Finally, we showed that isolated osteoclasts in culture are responsive to the selective α2‐AR agonist clonidine and to the nonspecific α‐AR antagonist phentolamine. These findings suggest that β2‐AR is not the single adrenoceptor involved in bone turnover regulation and show that α2‐AR signaling also may mediate the SNS actions in the skeleton. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Oxford University Press