Abstract
The present study was undertaken to clarify the changes of bone metabolism in the femoral diaphysis of adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats. On 28 days after adjuvant inoculation to rats, calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) contents in the femoral diaphysis of injected hind leg were significantly decreased in comparison with those of control rats. Moreover, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) in the femoral diaphysis of AA rats was significantly increased. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and collagen contents in the femoral diaphysis were not significantly altered in comparison with those of control rats. Meanwhile, the serum A/G ratio, Ca and Zn concentration in AA rats were significantly decreased in comparison with those of control rats. Serum parathyroid hormon (PTH-C) was significantly increased in AA rats, although serum estradiol and calcitonin were not altered in comparison with those from normal rats. Serum adrenocorticotropic hormon (ACTH) level was increased but not significant in AA rats. Electron microscopic analysis showed a rough alteration of bone matrix and cartilage cell degeneration in the femoral epiphysis of AA rats.
These results suggest that AA rat has a disorder of bone metabolism in femoral diaphysis and these bone metabolism changes are different from that caused by immobilization or ovariectomized rats.
