Abstract
We evaluated the severity of various kinds of experimental osteoporosis in rats by photomicrodensitometry using soft x-ray film, with emphasis on the effect of immobilization combined with ovariectomy and low-calcium diet. Since the values obtained by photo-microdensitometry were correlated well with ash weight of the femora, photo-microdensitometry appears to be a useful method for evaluating the degree of experimental osteoporosis. The severity of osteoporotic changes depended on the extent of immobilization. The changes after ovariectomy combined with immobilization as well as low-calcium diet combined with immobilization were more pronounced than after each procedure alone, suggesting a synergistic effect.
