Abstract
Calcium intake in our country ranks low in the world. Moreover, our presentday diet does not rectify the state of calcium deficiency. At the same time, no report has yet been made on methods for effectively improving debilitated bone tissue.
The authors therefore gave calcium deficient food to three-week-old rats of the Wistar strain and induced a state of bone debility in them. The rats were then given a mixed food of calcium-rich sardine powder and standard food, namely high calcium food, and the effect on bone construction in the mandibular condyle was investigated.
The results were as follows:
1. In the radiological findings, administration of high calcium food resulted in clear osseous layers and an increase in and a regularity of the trabeculae.
2. In the findings from analysis with X-ray micro-analyzer, administration of high calcium food increased both the relative Ca ratio and the relative P ratio, and the values of the calcium-deficient food group and high calcium food group approximated those of the control group.
3. In the histopathological findings, administration of high calcium food showed active findings in the bone formation such as a decrease in width of the cartilagenous layer, an increase in width of the trabecula and an increase in number.
4. In the scanning electron microscopic findings, administration of high calcium showed active formation of the longitudinal matrix and active formation of the trabeculae in the subchondral bone formation zone. When compared with the control group, however, every aspect was still unsatisfactory.
On the basis of the foregoing findings, administration of a mixed food of calcium-rich sardine powder and standard food, namely high calcium food to debelitated bone tissue in the mandibular condyle accelerated the growth of the chondrocyte layer and bone construction in the bone tissue. The state of the restoration however was shown to be insufficient.
