Low Intensity Vibration With Zoledronate Reduces Musculoskeletal Weakness and Adiposity in Estrogen Deprived Female Mice

Authors

Gabriel M Pagnotti
Trupti Trivedi
Laura E Wright
Sutha K John
Sreemala Murthy
Ryan R Pattyn
Monte S Willis
Yun She
Sukanya Suresh
Aji F Touray
William R Thompson
Clinton T Rubin
Khalid S Mohammad
Theresa A Guise

Language

English

Publication Date

1-21-2026

Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-026-68522-0

PMID

41559081

PMCID

PMC12916934

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

1-21-2026

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Aromatase inhibitors are widely used in the treatment of hormone-sensitive breast cancer, but their suppression of estrogen production accelerates bone loss, increases fracture risk, and negatively impacts muscle and fat metabolism. Here, we demonstrate that daily low intensity vibration, serving as a non-drug mimetic for exercise, protects musculoskeletal health in skeletally immature, female mice under complete estrogen deprivation. Subsequent improvements in vertebral bone density are paralleled by greater and leaner skeletal muscle mass and function alongside reduced fat accretion and circulating metabolites. In mature, estrogen deprived mice, vibration enhances weekly bisphosphonate treatment, improving bone density, cortical thickness, and mechanical resistance to fracture. These findings support the proposed hypothesis that low intensity vibration reduces musculoskeletal frailty in estrogen deprived mice, with stronger effects observed in younger cohorts, while in skeletally mature mice combination therapy with anti-resorptive treatment is necessary to suppress cancer-treatment induced musculoskeletal degradation.

Keywords

Animals, Female, Vibration, Estrogens, Zoledronic Acid, Mice, Muscle, Skeletal, Adiposity, Bone Density, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Bone Density Conservation Agents, Muscle Weakness, Bone metastases, Breast cancer, Translational research

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Pagnotti, Gabriel M; Trivedi, Trupti; Wright, Laura E; et al., "Low Intensity Vibration With Zoledronate Reduces Musculoskeletal Weakness and Adiposity in Estrogen Deprived Female Mice" (2026). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 5789.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthgsbs_docs/5789