Changes in the content of zinc and fluoride during growth of the femur in chicken.

Zinc and fluorides are capable of modifying the process of bone formation and mineralization. Statistically significant differences have been revealed in the content of zinc and fluorides between structures of the femur in chicken. The content of zinc in compact bone remained constant during the first 50 d of life. Lower and less stable contents were found in spongy bone and bone marrow. The content of fluorides in compact bone was higher than in spongy bone. The lowest concentrations of zinc and fluorides were found in articular cartilage and were further reduced at the end of observation. Correlations revealed between the content of zinc and fluorides point to structural and functional relationships between these elements in various parts of the bone.