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Effect of hypophysectomy on longitudinal bone growth in the rat

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Abstract

The effect of hypophysectomy on the growth in length from the proximal growth plate of the tibia in female Sprague-Dawley rats was studied with the tetracycline method. The body weight was registered. The completeness of the hypophysectomy was determined microscopically on serial sections of the sella turcica. Hypophysectomy was found to have a retarding effect on longitudinal bone growth. In animals operated at 40 days of age the growth does not cease. The longitudinal growth decreases and reaches a low basal level about 10 days postoperatively. A single dose of 45 mg/kg cortisone acetate given at hypophysectomy has a growth retarding effect postoperatively. When hypophysectomy was performed at 30, 40, 50, or 60 days of age, young animals have a higher basal growth rate than older animals. The width of the fluorescent band, corresponding to a postoperative injection of oxytetracycline, is correlated to the growth rate and can be used as an index of the growth rate. The postoperative accumulated growth and the width of the fluorescent band indicate the functional efficacy of the hypophysectomy, and make it possible to separate animals with complete and incomplete hypophysectomy. Knowledge about the basal growth is important for the evaluation of the growth stimulating effect of different hormones.

Résumé

L’effet de l’hypophysectomie sur la croissance en longueur de la métaphyse proximale du tibia de rats Sprague-Dawley femelles a été étudié par la méthode de la tétracycline. Le poids corporel est déterminé. L’hypophysectomie complète est contrôlée sur des coupes sériées de la selle thurcique. L’hypophysectomie provoque un retard sur la croissance en long de l’os. Chez les animaux opérés à l’âge de 40 jours, la croissance n’est pas arrêtée. La croissance longitudinale diminue et atteint une valeur plus élevée de base, environ 10 jours après l’intervention. Lorsque l’hypophysectomie est réalisée à l’âge de 30, 40, 50 ou 60 jours, les animaux jeunes ont une valeur de base plus élevée que les animaux plus âgés. La largeur de la bande fluorescente, correspondant à une injection post-opératoire d’oxytétracycline, est en rapport avec le taux de croissance et peut être utilisée comme indice de l’activité de croissance. La croissance post-opératoire et l’épaisseur de bande de tétracycline indiquent l’efficacité fonctionelle de l’hypophysectomie et permet de distinguer les animaux avec hypophysectomies totales ou partielles. La connaissance de la croissance de base est importante pour évaluer l’effet de stimulation de croissance des diverses hormones.

Zusammenfassung

Die Wirkung der Hypophysektomie auf das Längenwachstum der proximalen Wachstumsplatte der Tibia wurde bei weiblichen Sprague-Dawley-Ratten mit der Tetracyclinmethode studiert. Das Körpergewicht wurde notiert. Die Vollständigkeit der Hypophysektomie wurde anhand von Serienschnitten der Sella turcica mikroskopisch kontrolliert. Es wurde festgestellt, daß die Hypophysektomie eine Bremswirkung auf das Längenwachstum der Knochen hat. Tiere, welche mit 40 Tagen operiert wurden, hören nicht auf zu wachsen. Das Längenwachstum nimmt ab und erreicht etwa 10 Tage nach der Operation den Tiefststand. Eine einmalige Dosis von 45 mg/kg Cortisonacetat, welches bei der Hypophysektomie gegeben wird, hat eine postoperative wachstumshemmende Wirkung. Junge Tiere, welche mit 30, 40, 50 oder 60 Tagen einer Hypophysektomie unterzogen wurden, haben eine höhere Grundwachstumsgeschwindigkeit als ältere Tiere. Die Breite der fluoreszierenden Schicht, welche einer postoperativen Injektion von Oxytetracyclin entspricht, steht mit der Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit in Zusammenhang und kann als Index der Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit verwendet werden. Das postoperative akkumulierte Wachstum und die Breite der Fluoreszenzschicht deuten die funktionelle Wirksamkeit der Hypophysektomie an und ermöglichen die Unterscheidung zwischen Tieren mit vollständiger und solchen mit unvollständiger Hypophysektomie. Die Kenntnis des Grundwachstums ist wichtig für die Beurteilung der Wachstumsstimulierenden Wirkung verschiedener Hormone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology, University of Lund, Biskopsgatan 5, S-223 62, Lund, Sweden

    K. -G. Thorngren, L. I. Hansson, K. Menander-Sellman & A. Stenström

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Lund, Biskopsgatan 5, S-223 62, Lund, Sweden

    K. -G. Thorngren, L. I. Hansson, K. Menander-Sellman & A. Stenström

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  1. K. -G. Thorngren
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  2. L. I. Hansson
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  3. K. Menander-Sellman
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  4. A. Stenström
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Thorngren, K.G., Hansson, L.I., Menander-Sellman, K. et al. Effect of hypophysectomy on longitudinal bone growth in the rat. Calc. Tis Res. 11, 281–300 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02547228

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