ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the effect of caffeine and vitamin D3 on the height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of epiphyseal cartilage of developing femur of BALB/c mice
Study Design: Laboratory based randomized control trial
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at anatomy department, Army Medical College [AMC], Rawalpindi, in collaboration with National Institute of Health [NIH], Islamabad from Oct 2014 to Oct 2015
Material and Methods: A total of thirty [30] BALB/c mice [15 male, 15 female], three weeks old and weighing 12-14 g, were taken and divided in to three equal groups of 10 mice each [5 male, 5 female]. The control group G1 was given normal diet with water ad libitum. In addition to the same diet, animals in experimental group G2 were given 10 mg of caffeine per 100 g body weight once a day on alternate days through oral gav age for 60 days. All animals of group G3 for 60 days were given caffeine 10mg/100gm body weight on alternate day and vitamin D3 0.1?g per day by oral gav age. At completion of the experiment, effect of caffeine and vitamin D3 on the height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of epiphyseal cartilage of mice's femur was analyzed
Results: The mean +/- SD of height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of control group G1 animals was found to be 31.5 +/- 4.1?m and 43 +/- 2.6?m, respectively. The mean +/- SD of height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of experimental group G2 animals was observed as 59 +/- 3.2?m and 72.5 +/- 7.2?m, respectively. The mean +/- SD of height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of experimental group G3 animals was measured as 46 +/- 4.6?m and 54 +/- 4.6?m, respectively
Conclusion: Caffeine intake altered the height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of the epiphyseal cartilage of developing femur; however treatment with vitamin D3 ameliorated this effect