The mecanism of cementing line formation in the bones of cestrum-fed chicks.

Chicks fed a rachitogenic diet for five weeks after hatching were then treated with a daily oral dose of 1,000 I.U. Vitamin D3 or a 1% addition to the feed of powdered leaves of Cestrum diurnum for periods of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 30 days. Comparative studies were made on stained sections, microradiographs of undermineralized sections and alpharadiographs of demineralized sections. The present dose of Cestrum diurnum caused at first, a rapid maturation and mineralization of the epiphyseal cartilage and an intense growth and osteocytic osteolysis in the diaphysis of the tibia and femur. After 8 days however, growth decreased and the diaphysis gradually became petrotic. Under these conditions, the osteocytes degenerated and died. The areas of polysaccharide-rich, low density matrix which surrounded them, decreased gradually to become cementing lines, persistent after 30 days.