ISSN:
1432-0827
Keywords:
Vitamin K cycle
;
Anticoagulant therapy
;
Experimental fracture healing
;
Quantitative cytochemistry
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
,
Physics
Notes:
Summary The anticoagulant, dicumarol, inhibits the vitamin K cycle by blocking the conversion of the vitamin K epoxide. The effects of dicumarol on ossification have been tested by feeding it to rats in which a closed fracture of the metatarsals had been induced; the effects were studied up to 12 days postfracture. At 12 days, treatment with dicumarol caused a highly significant decrease in the amount of bone produced, without affecting the total size of the callus. Quantitative cytochemistry of unfixed, undemineralized sections showed that dicumarol also markedly affected the periosteal activities of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and of alkaline phosphatase in the first 2 mm from the fracture measured at 3 and 5 days postfracture when normally, new bone is first formed. In contrast, dicumarol had little effect on these activities in the fully formed callus.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02405322
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