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Modulation of vertebral and tibial growth by compression loading: Diurnal versus full‐time loading
Author(s) -
Stokes Ian A.,
Gwadera Jodie,
Dimock Abigail,
Farnum Cornelia E.,
Aronsson David D.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1016/j.orthres.2004.06.012
Subject(s) - compression (physics) , endochondral ossification , bone growth , anatomy , chemistry , medicine , materials science , biology , endocrinology , cartilage , composite material
Abstract Purpose : This study was designed to determine whether the amount of endochondral growth response to mechanical compression and the underlying growth mechanism differed with night‐time or day‐time loading, relative to full‐time loading. Methods : Mechanical compression (nominally 0.1 MPa stress) was applied across tibial and tail vertebral growth plates of growing Sprague–Dawley rats. Four groups of animals (five per group) were used: 24/24 h (full‐time loading); 12/24 h (day‐loading); 12/24 h (night‐loading); and 0/24 h (sham instrumented). Contralateral tibiae and adjacent vertebrae served as within‐animal controls. The animals were euthanized after eight days. Growth plates were processed for quantitative histology to measure 24‐h growth, total and BrdU‐positive proliferative zone chondrocyte counts, and hypertrophic chondrocytic enlargement in the growth direction. Results : Growth as a percentage of within‐animal control averaged 82% (full‐time); 93% (day‐loading); 90% (night‐loading); 100% (sham) for vertebrae. For proximal tibiae it averaged 70% (full‐time); 84% (day‐loading); 86% (night‐loading); 89% (sham). Reduced amount of hypertrophic chondrocytic enlargement explained about half of this effect in full‐time loaded growth plates, but was not significantly altered in half‐time loaded growth plates. The remaining variation in growth was apparently explained by reduced total numbers of proliferative zone chondrocytes. These findings indicate that sustained compression loading suppressed growth more than intermittent loading at both anatomical locations. © 2004 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.