# Effects of reproduction and lactation on the functional spinal unit post menopause

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $14,890

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Lactation and menopause are physiological events where substantial changes in mineral and skeletal
metabolism are triggered by a shared endocrine signal of rapid estrogen decline, resulting in bone loss.
Consequently, low back pain, particularly during childbearing and post menopause is commonly associated
with intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and osteoporosis of vertebral bone. Clinical investigations
suggested that no or negative effect of parity on self-reported LBP while a recent case-control study reported
breastfeeding as a protective factor for clinically diagnosed IVDD in elderly women. As a result, there exists a
critical knowledge gap regarding the effects of reproduction and lactation on the FSU that are independent of
non-biological effects of parenthood. As the functional spinal unit (FSU) consists of vertebral bone (VB),
cartilage end plate (CEP), and intervertebral disc (IVD), understanding the interactive effects of reproduction
and menopause on CEP and IVD homeostasis is essential to uncover possible mechanisms of how the FSU
changes to accommodate demanding metabolic conditions.
 Our research group has previously reported significant vertebral bone loss during pregnancy and
lactation followed by a rapid recovery post-weaning. Moreover, a history of lactation exerts a protective effect
on VB against post-menopausal osteoporosis. In particular, perilacunar-canalicular (PLC) remodeling activities
are significantly increased in rats with reproductive history post-OVX, which would likely lead to increased
solute transport within the lacunar-canalicular system, and the subsequent altered nutrition delivery and
transport between VB and CEP may impact IVD health. Therefore, we hypothesize that a similar innate
compensatory mechanism from reproduction may protect against post-menopausal IVDD by enhancing the
local nutrient delivery and transport within the FSU resulting from increased PLC remodeling.
 The objective of this proposal is to establish and monitor changes of intervertebral disc
degeneration in the FSU in response to estrogen deficiency and identify possible mechanisms that
may differentiate responses in rats with and without a reproduction history. We will (1) establish an
animal model to determine the biological effect of reproduction and lactation on IVD tissue and establish a
direct connection between reproduction and menopause by investigating their interactive effects on IVD health;
(2) Focus on local solute transport at the bone and CEP interface; (3) Reveal novel functions of the osteocyte
PLC remodeling in modulating nutrient transport across IVD-CEP-VB functional unit; (4) Develop and utilize
imaging modalities (in vivo µCT and quantitative MRI T1 and T2 mapping) to track the structural changes of
IVD-CEP-VB functional unit and examine solute diffusivity of the IVD. Elucidating the biological effects of
reproduction and lactation on the FSU will provide clinical insight on whether pre...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10252759
- **Project number:** 5F32AR076906-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Rebecca Chung
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $14,890
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-03-05 → 2021-05-03

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10252759

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10252759, Effects of reproduction and lactation on the functional spinal unit post menopause (5F32AR076906-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10252759. Licensed CC0.

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