Abstract
Toxicological effect of salicylate on growing bone was examined and the following results were obtained. (1) The longitudinal growth of rat tibia was inhibited and deformation of the proximal metaphyseal region was noted by radiographic examination. The deformation of bone was proportional to the injected dose of sodium salicylate. (2) A number of trabeculae were found in the metaphyseal region by microradiographic examination, and Alcian Blue staining technique also showed that many cartilaginous mat1ix were remained in the metaphyseal region. (3) In the experimental group receiving subcutaneous injection of the salicylate in a dose of 400 mg/kg every other day for 30 days, serum calcium and phosphorus levels were not significantly different from those of controls. (4) Serum 11-hydroxycorticosteroids decreased significantly in the salicylate-treated rats receiving 15 (p<0.05) and 20 (p <0.01) successive subcutaneous injections of the salicylate in a dose of 400 mg/ kg. This finding suggested that the salicylate-induced changes were rather direct action of salicylate than the stimulation of the hypothalamico-adenohypophyseal-adrenocortical system by salicylate. (5) Sodium salicylate-induced histological changes in the rat tibia were reversible. When successive injections of the salicylate were stopped the abnormal histologic appearances were restored rather rapidly to normal. A possible mechanism of these changes was also discussed.
