Bone histomorphometry in 50 normal Tunisian subjects.

Quantitative bone histomorphometry was done on undecalcified sections of iliac crest bone specimens obtained at autopsy from 50 normal subjects (24 males and 26 females). The following parameters were measured: cortical thickness (Ct.Th), trabecular bone volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), osteoid volume (OV/BV), osteoid surfaces (OS/BS), osteoid thickness (O.Th) and eroded surfaces (ES/BS). There was a significant age-related decrease in BV/TV in both sexes which followed a x3 polynomial regression. A significant decrease of Tb.Th was noted in males after the fifth decade. In males, bone loss was 1.5% per decade, but in females it was 0.36% before menopausal period and 2% after. Other parameters were unrelated to age and sex.