Changes in the epiphyseal cartilages of mice treated with parathormone, fluoride and copper

Male Swiss mice were maintained for four weeks on an adequate diet with and without copper or fluoride supplementation. Some were injected with parathormone during the last two weeks. An histological examination of the epiphyseal cartilages was undertaken. Parathormone administration induced a thickening of the epiphyseal plates. Thickened epiphyseal plates were also seen in mice fed a diet supplemented with copper whether or not treated with parathormone. Fluoride supplementation, on the other hand, led to the development of thinner than normal epiphyseal plates, which were not modified by a supplement of parathormone. In most of the groups an inverse relationship between the thickness of the epiphyseal plates and their content of stainable neutral mucopolysaccharides was observed.