Influence of ethanol on stiffness, toughness, and ductility of femurs of rats.

Recently, we reported that the ingestion of alcohol in rats reduced the mechanical strength of femurs. Our results showed that, as the dose exceeded 0.012 g of ethanol per gram of body weight, a significant (p less than 0.001) loss of "strength" occurred that was independent of sex according to the relationship, Strength (N) = 140.4 - 6003 dose (g/g). In the present effort, the same flexure tests were reevaluated to include the parameters of stiffness, toughness, and ductility. These latest results confirm that the femurs of rats fed an ethanol liquid diet for 4 weeks are not only weaker but also more compliant and less energy absorbing. Although the femurs of rats fed ethanol are more ductile, the bones are more prone to fracture in fatigue and impact circumstances as well as under simple loading situations. The rat may be an appropriate model to study the mechanisms that lead to the higher incidence of fractures in the alcoholic human.