Osteosclerosis of the femoral head in long-term uraemic rabbits.

The morphology of the femoral head of rabbits was studied by histomorphometric analysis of undecalcified sections after four and eight months' duration of surgically induced chronic renal failure. A significant increase in trabecular bone mass and osteoid tissue was found in the uraemic rabbits. Signs of osteonecrosis or increased bone resorption were not seen. 99mTechnetium-methylenediphosphonate osteoscintigrams showed increased uptake in the axial skeleton and all periarticular regions in uraemic rabbits. The serum concentrations of calcium and phosphate in the uraemic rabbits were increased.