Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head in the Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats, Especially Old Rats

Abstract

The average life span of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) is about eight months. Male SHRSPs at 40 weeks old were used to study the idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ION). The control group showed about 40% old necrosis and 20% early necrosis. The group administered with steroid hormone showed an increasing degeneration of adipocyte in the bone marrow, and 20% fresh necrosis was recognized. Furthermore, we observed the adipocyte change as well as early necrosis occurring among old necrosis sites. The study of aged rats may provide further understanding into the pathogenesis of ION.