title: Anatomical evaluation of the cervical vertebrae of Wistar rats by means of digital radiographs and its correlation with the maturation stages of human cervical vertebrae.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biological age is an important parameter for growth and development assessment. It can be evaluated through the observation of radiographic changes in skeletal maturation of cervical vertebrae.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to: a) verify if there is correlation between growth curve and the stages of bone age of animals used in laboratories, by evaluating radiographs of the cervical vertebrae; b) correlate these stages with their correspondents in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  35 Wistar rats were evaluated for a period of 160 days, starting at day 22nd (weaning), with cross sections for periodic weighing, length measurement and digital radiography. Radiographs of the cervical vertebrae (C2 and C3) were measured by means of a computer program (Radio IMP). Data were submitted to statistical analysis (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Growth spurt was characterized by fast increasing in weight and length. Through ANOVA, differences were observed in the cervical measurements between days 22, 97, 127, 157, 187 and 217 (p <0.001). A high correlation was found between increasing in body length and weight, as well as in cervical vertebrae height (r = 0.86). Increments in concavities of vertebrae were also observed, similar to humans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is correlation between body growth and maturation of cervical vertebrae in rats. Despite the continuous development of concavities, it was not possible to clearly identify the 5/6 stages as in studies of cervical vertebrae maturation in humans.
authors.forename: Roberto Hiroshi
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Julio Cezar de Melo
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Castilho
authors.forename: Luiz César
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.forename: Mônica Fernandes
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Faltin Júnior
authors.forename: Miriam Yumi
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Matsui
mesh_terms: D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Cervical vertebrae; Growth and development; Radiography