Original scientific paper

Application of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry method for small animals in measuring bone mineral density of the humerus of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Adriatic Sea

Hrvoje Lucić ; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embriology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Snježana Vuković ; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embriology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Vjekoslav Posavac ; Kolodvorska 26G, Baranjsko Petrovo Selo, Croatia
Martina Đuras Gomerčić ; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embriology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Gomerčić ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Galov ; Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Darinka Škrtić ; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embriology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Snježana Ćurković ; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embriology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Hrvoje Gomerčić ; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embriology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) in dolphins was described in earlier investigations, but only by application of osteodensitometric methods used for man. The aim of this study was to test the possibilities of applying the method for small animals in the measurement of the bone mineral density in dolphins. The humeri of the right flippers of 24 bottlenose dolphins (11 males and 13 females) were analyzed using the dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method for measurement and analysis of the bone mineral density in small animals. The tested method can be successfully applied for measuring bone mineral density in dolphins, but the range of measured values was lower than values that resulted from using the method for man. Statistical analysis indicated positive linear correlations between bone mineral density of dolphin humerus and the total body length and age of the dolphins.

Keywords

bottlenose dolphin; Tursiops truncatus; dolphin humerus; dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; bone mineral density

Hrčak ID:

56718

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/56718

Publication date:

26.4.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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