Use of X-ray microprobe to diagnose bone tissue demineralization after caffeine administration Use of X-ray microprobe to diagnose bone tissue demineralization after caffeine administration

• Main Authors: Marek Tomaszewski, Grazyna Olchowik, Monika Tomaszewska, Franciszek Burdan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Via Medica 2012-10-01
• Series: Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica
• Online Access: http://czasopisma.viamedica.pl/fhc/article/view/19754

Caffeine is a methylxanthine which permeates the placenta. In studies on animals, it has been&lt;br /&gt;shown to produce teratogenic and embryotoxic effects in large doses. The objective of this study was to&lt;br /&gt;assess the influence of caffeine on the development of bone tissue, with particular reference to elemental&lt;br /&gt;bone composition using an X-ray microprobe. The research was conducted on rats. The fertilized females&lt;br /&gt;were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group was&lt;br /&gt;given caffeine orally in 30 mg/day doses from the 8th to the 21st day of pregnancy, while the control group&lt;br /&gt;was given water. The fetuses were used to assess the growth and mineralization of the skeleton. On the&lt;br /&gt;basis of double dyeing, a qualitative analysis of the bone morphology and mineralization was conducted.&lt;br /&gt;For calcium and potassium analysis, an X-ray microprobe was used. In 67 fetuses from the experimental&lt;br /&gt;group, changes in skeleton staining with the alcian-alizarin method were noticed. The frequency of the&lt;br /&gt;development of variants in the experimental group was statistically higher. In the experimental group,&lt;br /&gt;a significant decrease in the calcium level, as well as an increase in the potassium level, was observed.&lt;br /&gt;The X-ray microprobe’s undoubted advantage is that is offers a quick qualitative and quantitative analysis&lt;br /&gt;of the elemental composition of the examined samples. Employing this new technique may furnish us&lt;br /&gt;with new capabilities when investigating the essence of the pathology process.<br>Caffeine is a methylxanthine which permeates the placenta. In studies on animals, it has been&lt;br /&gt;shown to produce teratogenic and embryotoxic effects in large doses. The objective of this study was to&lt;br /&gt;assess the influence of caffeine on the development of bone tissue, with particular reference to elemental&lt;br /&gt;bone composition using an X-ray microprobe. The research was conducted on rats. The fertilized females&lt;br /&gt;were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group was&lt;br /&gt;given caffeine orally in 30 mg/day doses from the 8th to the 21st day of pregnancy, while the control group&lt;br /&gt;was given water. The fetuses were used to assess the growth and mineralization of the skeleton. On the&lt;br /&gt;basis of double dyeing, a qualitative analysis of the bone morphology and mineralization was conducted.&lt;br /&gt;For calcium and potassium analysis, an X-ray microprobe was used. In 67 fetuses from the experimental&lt;br /&gt;group, changes in skeleton staining with the alcian-alizarin method were noticed. The frequency of the&lt;br /&gt;development of variants in the experimental group was statistically higher. In the experimental group,&lt;br /&gt;a significant decrease in the calcium level, as well as an increase in the potassium level, was observed.&lt;br /&gt;The X-ray microprobe’s undoubted advantage is that is offers a quick qualitative and quantitative analysis&lt;br /&gt;of the elemental composition of the examined samples. Employing this new technique may furnish us&lt;br /&gt;with new capabilities when investigating the essence of the pathology process.