Bone disorders in spontaneously hypertensive rat.

The bones of adult (26 weeks old) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were examined chemically and histologically by comparing them with those of the corresponding normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. The mean cortical thickness, the mean ash weight per unit bone volume, and the ash as percentage of dry weight of femur were significantly lower in SHR than in WKY. Besides, the percent cortical area measured on tibial cross-section was also reduced in SHR compared with WKY. These findings strongly suggest that the development of osteoporotic bone disorders exists in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats.