title: Bone morphometrics and tetracycline marking patterns in young growing American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis).
abstract: Nine young American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) were injected at monthly intervals with tetracycline to determine the bone apposition rate and the resorption patterns over a 3-mo period. The periosteal apposition rate increased progressively over the 3-mo period from 2.99 microns/day to 5.94 microns/day. Endosteal apposition rate was much slower with incomplete tetracycline lines being observed on the endosteum. This suggests that most modeling-resorptive activities occur on the endosteal envelope.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Matlock
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Joanen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McNease
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bowen
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development; D001862:Bone Resorption; D012104:Reptiles / Q000254:growth & development*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D013752:Tetracycline