Histomorphometric Analysis of the Rat Proximal Tibial Metaphysis by “Linear Scanning”

Authors

R. G. Erben, Ludwig-Maximilians-University
B. Kohn, Ludwig-Maximilians-University
W. A. Rambeck, Ludwig-Maximilians-University
H. Zucker, Ludwig-Maximilians-University

Abstract

Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats (10 weeks old, 200g BW) were either sham-operated (n = 6) or ovariectomized (ovx). Ovx rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 6 each) : ovx; ovx + 1,25(OH) ₂D₃; ovx + l,25(OH)₂D₃ + 1,24,25(OH)₃D₃. The vitamin D metabolites were fed orally starting the day after surgery. After 7 weeks all rats were sacrificed and the proximal tibiae were processed undecalcified for quantitative histomorphometry. Conventional histomorphometric analysis of the distal zone (> 1 mm from the growth cartilage) of the tibial metaphysis revealed a dramatic loss of cancellous bone mass in ovx rats. Both l,25(OH)₂D₃ and the combination of l,25(OH)₂D₃ with l,24,25(OH)₃D₃ prevented the bone loss in the distal zone in ovx animals. Measurements in the proximal zone (< 1 mm from the growth cartilage) of the tibial metaphysis were performed with a newly developed technique that utilizes the advantages of automatic image analysis, and that we propose to name "linear scanning". This method revealed a significantly decreased hard tissue mass at about 100 μm and within 800 to 950 μm distance from the growth plate in ovx rats. However, ovx rats reached normal amounts of hard tissue within 250 to 450 μm from the growth plate. The results obtained by linear scanning suggest that the obvious loss of cancellous bone mass in the distal zone of the tibial metaphysis in growing ovx rats is not a consequence of structural changes in the proximal zone.

Recommended Citation

Erben, R. G.; Kohn, B.; Rambeck, W. A.; and Zucker, H. (1990) "Histomorphometric Analysis of the Rat Proximal Tibial Metaphysis by “Linear Scanning”," Scanning Microscopy: Vol. 4: No. 3, Article 12.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/microscopy/vol4/iss3/12