Inducement and observation on animal model of steroid treated osteonecrosis

Objective:To establish the animal model of steroid- induced avascular necrosis of femoral head.Method:32 adult Japanese rabbits were randomly devided into two groups:experimental group and control group.As for ex-perimental group, each animal was injected with 10mg/kg of prednisolone, twice per week.and as for controlgroup, each one was injected with 2ml of normal salive. The experiment lasted for six weeks. Pathological changesof femoral head were observed with light microscope and electron microscope.Result: At the end of 2、4 weeks, ex-perimental group, osteoporosis of the femoral head, increased numbers of empty bone lacunae and fat cells wereobserved with light microscope.At the end of 6 weeks, Shrinked nuclei and dissolved osteocytes and fragments wereobserved with electron microscope.Conclusion: The large dosage of hormone could cause avascular necrosis offemoral head during a short period in rabbits.