Radiological investigation of alterations in the rat femur after long-term immobilization.
The right hind limb of female rats was immobilized by plaster cast. Following 8 weeks of immobilization the alterations were compared with either the contralateral extremity of the same rat or with the extremities of non-immobilized animals. The femurs were investigated by microradioscopic, morphometric, densitometric and atom absorption methods. The results obtained have unequivocally shown that long-term immobilization by plaster cast leads to development of osteoporosis in the rat. Even though no considerable loss of calcium could be demonstrated when calculated in terms of unit layer thickness quantitative analysis of the bone revealed a high degree of osteopenia.
Department of Radiology, University Medical School, Debrecen, Hungary.
J
J
Gyarmati
F
F
Jenei
I
I
Földes
M
M
Rapcsák
A
A
Szöör
T
T
Szilágyi
D000818:Animals; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000032:analysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007103:Immobilization; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium