# Diverse effects of somatopause and aging on the skeleton

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $158,500

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
Our project focuses on the modulation of bone quality during aging, which we hypothesize is
controlled by osteocytes. Our studies are designed to determine the interactions between `intact
aging' and somatopause in the aging skeleton and to identify the cellular mechanisms involved.
Cellular and molecular analyses are aimed at linking osteocyte connectivity, mitochondrial function
and metabolism to bone tissue composition. These studies capitalize on using a unique mouse
model of age-induced somatopause, which is based on the use of tamoxifen-inducible (i)
ubiquitously-expressed Cre in conjunction with the GHR floxed gene (iGHRKO), a previously
validated model (PMID:27732088). Studies accomplished so far have revealed that somatopause in
the iGHRKO impairs bone morphology, bone tissue quality, osteocyte connectivity, and osteocyte
mitochondrial function.
An administrative supplement is requested for complementary studies as part of all aims of the
parent grant. The overall goal is to test how interventions that are known to modify the GH/IGF axis
and have beneficial effect on lifespan will affect the aging skeleton.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10409076
- **Project number:** 3R01AG056397-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MITCHELL B SCHAFFLER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $158,500
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-15 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10409076

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10409076, Diverse effects of somatopause and aging on the skeleton (3R01AG056397-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10409076. Licensed CC0.

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