Abstract
Congenital hypothyroidism is known to be associated with abnornal geometry of tubular bones.Tubular bones tend to be short and plump.It is generally assumed that this is due to the inhibition of longitudinal growth in the presence of undiminished periosteal growth in hypothyroidism.To prove this hypothesis, longitudinal periosteal growth was measured in experimental hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in rats.In such experimental animals changes of bone geometry similar to humans have been found.
Methods: loo gmale Wistar rats with euthyroidism (Eu) (sham-op,solvent injection), hypothyroidism (TX) (surgical TX) or hyperthyroidism (HT) (o,o5 mg T4/d, i.p.) were investigated both in parathyroid intact (PT-autotransplantation) or after PTX.Animals received repetitive tetracycline labels.Bone geometry, longitudinal and periosteal growth rate were measured in undecalcified sections.
Results: Independent of parathyroid function, hyperthyroidism decreased periosteal growth and hypothyroidism decreased both longitudinal and periosteal growth significantly.PTX has an independent adverse effect on periosteal and longitudinal growth of the tibia. Conclusion: Plump tubular bones in hypothyroidism cannot be the result of unimpaired periosteal apposition in the presence of decreased longitudinal growth rate.The above findings are compatible with the notion of diminished funnelling of metaphyseal cortex in hypothyroidism.
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Bomme, R., Rit, Z., Schachte, N. et al. Influence of thyroxine and parathyroid hormone on longitudinal and periosteal growth. Pediatr Res 14, 1419 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198012000-00064
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198012000-00064