ABSTRACT
The hind limbs of young rats were transferred to adult rats to clarify the morphologic
and growth changes of a young epiphyseal plate in an adult hormonal environment. The
transplanted femur and tibia achieved about 70 percent of normal growth in length,
or significantly less than normal control (p < 0.001). Histologically, the thickness of the epiphyseal plate in the transplanted
bone was significantly thinner than that of normal control (p < 0.001), and earlier epiphyseal union was also noted. Hormonal alterations during
adolescence are believed to have a marked effect on these findings. However, the circumferential
growth of the femur and tibia was greatly affected by the loss of biomechanical stress,
precluding an evaluation of the influence exerted by hormonal alterations.
