Effects of cloxacillin, doxycycline, fusidic acid and lincomycin on mineralization and solubility of collagen in young rats.

The antibiotics doxycycline, fusidic acid and lincoymcin have recently been shown to reduce growth of bones and tensile strength of skin in young rats. Such adverse effects were not found in rats receiving cloxacillin. The present investigation deals with the influences of these four antibiotics on the mineralization of bones and on the solubility of collagen in skin. In rats receiving doxycycline the content of calcium and phosphorus in bones and the concentration of albumin in serum were reduced. None of the antibiotics had a detectable effect on the solubility of collagen.