Abstract

 

The purpose of the present study was to investigate structural changes of the femur ofiactating and postlactation periods fed low-caicium diet in rats. Twenty pregnancy Wistar albino rats weighing between 200-250 g were used for this study.The laboratory animals divided into two groups consist of 10 female rats.The experimental group was fed with low-calcium diet for 90 days (0.083 % Ca ).The puppy rats in this group following lactation and postlactation periods were fed with same diet. The control group was fed with standard diet (Standard pellet-0.5°%Ca).

At the end of the experimental feeding period, the animals were sacrified and their femurs, removed enbloc sections (5mm) were taken and stained (Hematoxylen- Eosin, Masson Trichrome, Safranin fast green) for the light microscope. Light microscope examination; in the puppy rats in low-calcium diet group some histological sections of bone showed deminerilization area, an irregularitiy of inner surface of the lamellae and increase of the number of osteoclasts. Reducing the th ckness of bone cortex and spong osae trabeculae result from resorbt on were noted1

Key words: Low-calcium diet, femur, lactation, postlactation period, rat