Structural changes in blood vessels entering the growth plate during growth in rats

We observed the structural changes in blood vessels entering the growth plates of the femur and tibia of rats during growth using scanning electron microscopy. The penetrating vessels had blind endings which were bulbous at a time when rats showed rapid skeletal development. With subsequent slowing of development, the density of the vessels decreased and the blind endings became short stumps. These changes were more prominent in the proximal femur than in the distal femur and proximal tibia. The present study indicates an intimate relation between endochondral ossification in the growth plate and the structure of the penetrating vessels.