In vivo beta-aminopropionitrile treatment caused significant changes in
the mechanical properties of rat femora. In femora treated with
beta-aminopropinitrile as compared with controls, there was a 44 per cent
decrease in bone stiffness and a 47 per cent increase in bone deformation
to failure. Bone ash was decreased 5 per cent in the treated group. It is
likely that the decrease in bone ash was secondary to impaired
intermolecular bone-collagen cross-linking, which is a well established
consequence of treatment with beta-aminopropionitrile. Thus,
beta-aminopropionitrile influences bone mechanical properties directly by
impairing collagen cross-linking and indirectly by altering bone-matrix
mineralization.