The effects of simulated increases in body weight for 30 and 60 days on bone robusticity of limb bones in rats

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to subject groups of weanling male rats each to a specific 10% simulated increase in body weight, ranging from 1.1G-2.0G, using constant centrifugation. (In this paper, "G" is the acceleration due to gravity.) After 30 and 60 days, rats were killed and perfused with 10% buffered neutral formalin (B.N.F.). The humerus, radius, ulna, femur, and tibia were removed, cleared of all soft tissues, weighed, and the total length measured. Bone robusticity was calculated using the ponderal index: bone length/3 square root bone weight. Tukey's Multiple Range Test was used. The data suggest that the specific limb bone, G, and duration of centrifugation are each factors in the response of limb bones to simulated increases in body weight.

The effects of simulated increases in body weight from birth on bone robusticity of limb bones of rats

“…After 60 days of centrifugation, a n inverse relationship was revealed for limb bone length and simulated increases in body weight. An investigation (Simon et al, 1984d) of changes in bone robusticity in male weanling rats revealed that, after 60 days of centrifugation, there was no set pattern to describe the relationship between simulated increases in body weight and bone robusticity for the male weanling rats. For radius and ulna, there were no significant (P > .05) differences in ponderal indices among the controls and experimental groups.…”

“…There were one female and its litter per centrifuge cage, af- fording two litters per experimental group. A period of acclimation to centrifugation was initiated, as described in Simon et al (1984d). Two females and their litters served as controls.…”