The effects of arterial interruption on bone growth in a rat model

A controlled study was undertaken to examine the effects of temporary arterial interruption on bone growth in a laboratory rat model. Under general anaesthesia, the right external iliac artery (EIA) was exposed in each of 80 male rats weighing 110-120 g. Twenty of the rats served as sham controls while three groups of 20 rats each underwent ligation of the artery for 6, 24 and 48 hours respectively. All rats underwent measurement of right and left femoral and tibial length 12 weeks after artery ligation. Measurements were performed in vivo using three-dimensional stereoscopic analysis, the method of which is described. Results revealed that EIA ligation for 6 hours had no effect on bone growth but that ischaemia for 24 hours and 48 hours produced leg length discrepancies equalling 3.1% and 3.6% respectively. We conclude that a time-dependent relationship may exist between ischaemia and compromised bone growth in a developing animal.