Age-related Changes in Histological Structure of the Femur in Juvenile and Adult Rabbits: a Pilot Study

The age-related changes in bone tissue microstructure of the femur in juvenile and adult rabbits were investigated. The experiment was carried out on clinically healthy, 2-3 month and 5-6 month-old, female New Zealand White rabbits. Altogether 20 bones were analysed. Approximately 70-100 μm histological sections were prepared. The qualitative characteristics of the femur microstructure were determined according to the internationally accepted classification; quantitative variables were assessed using the software Scion Image (Scion Corporation, USA). Areas, perimeters, minimal and maximal diameters of primary osteon vascular canals, Haversian canals and secondary osteons were measured. We found out that the bone tissue displayed, in general, primary vascular longitudinal structure in both groups of rabbits. In juvenile rabbits, areas of a Haversian bone tissue occurred in the posteromedial and posterolateral sides. In addition, this tissue was found in the middle part of substantia compacta in adult individuals. The measured variables of the primary osteon vascular canals, the Haversian canals and the secondary osteons were higher in juvenile rabbits, except area of Haversian canals. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.001).