Changes in geometrical and biomechanical properties of immature male and female rat tibia

Tibial geometry and mechanical properties in male and female rapidly growing rats were measured to provide comparative data for spaceflight, exercise, or disease experiments that use immature rats as an animal model. A total of 68 immature Sprague-Dawley rats (43-58 d of age) were divided into 8 groups according to age and sex. Tibial length and middiaphysial cross-sectional data were analyzed, and tibial mechanical properties were obtained via three-point bending tests to failure. Results indicated that tibial geometry and mechanical properties were changed significantly during this 15-d period of rapid growth, with male rats having greater increases than female rats. Both male and female tibial lengths nevertheless increased significantly during this growth period, as did middiaphysical cross-sectional area. Tibial flexural rigidity increased significantly for both sexes during this growth period. The male tibiae changed primarily in structural characteristics, but some material properties also changed with age. In the female rats, however, the major changes in mechanical properties of the tibia were attributable only to structural changes in the bone.