Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T02:36:30.722Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effect of overfeeding newborn rabbits on the rate of skeletal maturation, as determined using a radiographic technique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2007

S. Andrew Spencer
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University Hospital, Nottingham NG7 2UH
Philip G. Small
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University Hospital, Nottingham NG7 2UH
David Hull
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University Hospital, Nottingham NG7 2UH
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. Newborn rabbits were overfed by encouraging them to suck from two lactating does. These double-fed rabbits were compared with single-fed litter-mate controls.

2. A standard set of fore- and hind-foot radiographs was obtained by taking daily radiographs from a normal litter and selecting the most representative film to act as a standard for that day.

3. Bone age was assessed in single- and double-fed rabbits at ages 7, 14, and 21 d by comparing radiographs taken at these ages with the standard films.

4. Double-feeding was associated with an increase in body-weight and an increase in bone age, although the former was increased to a much greater extent than the latter. The advance in bone age was proportional to an increase in bone length.

5. There is little information available on overnutrition and skeletal maturation in man, but what information is available suggests that height and skeletal maturation are increased in parallel. The present study with rabbits supports the concept that overnutrition increases growth rate but does not disturb the relation hetween bone growth and bone age.

6. Bone age can be assessed very sensitively in rabbits using the previously-described technique. It would therefore be a valuable technique for studying the endocrinology of skeletal maturation.

Type
Papers of direct relevance to Clinical and Human Nutrition
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1985

References

Appleton, A. B. (1929). Compte Rendu de I' Association des Anatomistes 24, 325.Google Scholar
Berridge, F. R. & Prior, K. M. (1954). Medical Research Council Special Report Series (London) 287, 119130.Google Scholar
Brook, C. D. G. (1978). Practical Paediatric Endocrinology, 1st ed. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Bruch, H. (1939). American Journal of Diseases in Children 58, 457484.Google Scholar
Dickerson, J. W. T. & Widdowson, E. M. (1960). Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (Biology) 152, 207217.Google Scholar
Hardman, M. J., Hull, D. & Oyesiku, J. (1970). Biology of the Neonate 16, 306312.Google Scholar
Kuhns, C. R. & Poznanski, A. K. (1980). Critical Reviews in Diagnostic Imaging 12, 245308.Google Scholar
Mossberg, H. (1948). Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica Suppl II, 3135.Google Scholar
Nowicki, M. (1974). Folia Morphologica (Warsz) 33, 6779.Google Scholar
Parkes, A. S. (1926). Annales of Applied Biology 13, 374394.Google Scholar
Spencer, S. A. & Hull, D. (1984). British Journal of Nutrition 51, 389402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Widdowson, E. M. & McCance, R. A. (1960). Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (Biology) 152, 188206.Google Scholar