Early-onset type 2 diabetes impairs skeletal acquisition in the male TALLYHO/JngJ mouse

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) incidence in adolescents is rising and may interfere with peak bone mass acquisition. We tested the effects of early-onset T2D on bone mass, microarchitecture, and strength in the TALLYHO/JngJ mouse, which develops T2D by 8 weeks of age. We assessed metabolism and skeletal acquisition in male TALLYHO/JngJ and SWR/J controls (n = 8–10/group) from 4 weeks to 8 and 17 weeks of age. Tallyho mice were obese; had an approximately 2-fold higher leptin and percentage body fat; and had lower bone mineral density vs SWR at all time points (P < .03 for all). Tallyho had severe deficits in distal femur trabecular bone volume fraction (−54%), trabecular number (−27%), and connectivity density (−82%) (P < .01 for all). Bone formation was higher in Tallyho mice at 8 weeks but lower by 17 weeks of age vs SWR despite similar numbers of osteoblasts. Bone marrow adiposity was 7- to 50-fold higher in Tallyho vs SWR. In vitro, primary bone marrow stromal cell differentiation into osteoblast and adipocyte...