title: Effects of sciatic neurectomy on the femur in growing rats: application of peripheral quantitative computed tomography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
abstract: The effects of unilateral sciatic neurectomy (USN) on the development of the femur were studied in 15 growing Wistar-derived rats (age, 5 weeks). The rats were divided into four groups: USN-operated group (right femur), USN-nonoperated group (left femur), sham-operated group (right femur), and sham-nonoperated group (left femur). Bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), bone area, periosteal circumference, and endosteal circumference were measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) and the mineral/matrix ratio was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The USN-operated group showed a significant decrease in cortical BMC, bone area, and periosteal circumference compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). The cortical BMD did not vary significantly between the groups. In the cancellous bone, the USN-operated group showed a significant decrease in BMD and BMC at the metaphysis compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). The mineral/matrix ratio of the cortical bone did not differ significantly between the USN-operated and USN-nonoperated groups. These results suggest that in cortical bone, USN inhibits periosteal bone formation but has no significant effect on the mineral/matrix ratio of cortical bone in femurs. In cancellous bone, USN induces bone loss at the metaphysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yonezu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shibata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003714:Denervation; D005269:Femur / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods