Effects of neonatal stunting on the development of rats: early and late effects of neonatal cortisone on physical growth and skeletal maturation.

Abstract

Cortisone acetate, 1.25 mg, was given im to each pup of eight eight-pup litters; saline was given to each pup of eight litters. At 21 days body weight, stem length, and length of long bones was less in the treated animals (P less than 0.001). The number of ossification centers was greater in the treated animals (P less than 0.05). Brain weight was less in the treated animals (P less than 0.001). For 84-day-old animals body weight (P less than 0.02) and length of most long bones (P less than 0.05) were less in the treated females. Body weight (P less than 0.01), stem length (P less than 0.01) and some bones (P less than 0.02) were smaller in the treated males. There was no difference in the number of epiphyseal fusions. The brains of the treated males weighed less than those of the controls (P less than 0.01). The effect on linear growth is in conformity with observations in children but the accelerated skeletal maturation was unexpected. The effect on skeletal maturation was less persistent than that on bone length.