Effects on bone of vascular interruption. Turnover and morphology in isotope-prelabelled rats.

The effects of bone devascularization were evaluated histologically and metabolically in rats prelabelled with 45Ca, 3H-tetracycline and 3H-proline by quantifying cortical bone resorption and formation. The interruption of blood supply to bone without invading its integrity resulted in a marked increase in bone turnover (resorption and formation) during the first and second months. The stimulated increase in bone resorption and formation did not affect the resultant mass of collagen and calcium. Thus, the increase in bone resorption was compensated by an equivalent increase in bone formation.