RADIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF BONE IN SEVERAL STRAINS OF LABORATORY MICE AND OF THEIR TUMORS INDUCED BY BONE-SEEKING RADIONUCLIDES

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 122  (NOV) , 357-375
Abstract
The natural radiographic appearance of the various bones of the skeleton are described for several strains of laboratory mice. The Harwell substrains of CBA, A and 101 are similar and become osteoporotic on ageing. Harwell C57BL have similar, but more delicately chiseled, bones. Harwell C3H mice have bones with stouter cortices and may show osteosclerosis on ageing. CF1 females showed osteosclerosis and osteophytic outgrowths when aged. NMRI mice appeared larger than the pure strain Harwell mice. Mouse bones are simple tubular structures with an ivory cortex and a marrow cavity. Cancellous trabecular bone is scanty, even in vertebrae, flat bones and the metaphyses of long bones. Bone seeking radionuclides administered to mice lead to skeletal tumors which include osteosarcomas, which are commonly radioopaque to a variable degree owing to calcified tumor bone, but which may be osteolytic; primitive mesenchymal (angio-) sarcomas which are nonosteogenic and osteolytic; fibrosarcomas, which are osteolytic, and local or general lymphomas from irradiation of parental cells in bone marrow. No special radiological features were associated with these last named tumors.