The effects of corticosterone on the growth and development of mouse long bone

• Main Author: Forbes, Nadine Andrea
• Format: Others
• Published: FIU Digital Commons 1995
• Subjects: Biology; Life Sciences
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3339

Adolescent mice were exposed to short term hypergravity of varied intensities and durations. Same age mice were not exposed to these stresses but were used as the controls. Results indicated no changes in body weight. Serum glucocorticoid concentrations had graded increases due to increased exposure showing also sexual dimorphism (females exceeding males). There was no difference among the groups in the femur length, breaking moment, and diaphyseal diameter (lateral to medial). Femur diameters (anterior to posterior) decreased as the exposure increased but no sexual differences were evident in all seven groups. Male femur cortical wall diameter was thicker than the females. Both male and female cortical wall thickness (lateral to medial and anterior to posterior) decreased as exposure increased. Endogenous glucocorticoid may play a crucial role in mechanical load studies. It is an important variable challenging the limitations of previous anabolic effects of mechanical load on the growth and development of long bone.