COMPARISON OF HISTOMORPHOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF EQUINE STERNAL CANCELLOUS BONE WITH BONE FROM OTHER SKELETAL SITES

Histomorphometric analysis of bone biopsy specimens in humans is a rel iable technique which provides information on bone status and turnover . A technique of sternal biopsy has been recently developed in ''stand ing horses'' The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate that the histomorphometric analysis of sternal cancellous bone was represen tative of other skeletal sites in horses. Post-mortem cancellous bone samples were obtained from the sternum, 12th rib, ilium, Ist lumbar ve rtebra and the tibia, of seven adult horses and embedded in methylmeth acrylate. Sections, 7 mu m thick, were cut and were stained with Goldn er's green trichrome. Histomorphometric parameters were measured by a semi-automated method. Sections from the sternum were qualitatively si milar to those from the rib, ilium and vertebra. Histomorphometric mea surements were easily performed on the sternal, ilium, rib and vertebr al sections. The tibial sections were not suitable for evaluation. The sternal histomorphometric parameters of bone formation and resorption were overall representative of those from other skeletal sites. The p resent study demonstrated that sternal cancellous bone is acceptable f or bone histomorphometry in horses as it reflects overall skeletal oss eous activity.