histological and histomorphometric examination of tibiae of mongolian gerbils Meriones unguiculatus of different age as possible objects in space experiments
Histological and histomorphological examinations of tibiae taken from young (body mass = 27 g) and adult (body mass = 73 g) male Mongolian gerbils Meriones unguicu/atus was fulfilled. Tibial bones of Mongolian gerbils have a hockey-stick form and are extremely thin. Morphologically the gerbils tibial bone is very similar to that of rat. The cartilaginous growth plate in the epiphysis is divided into the areas of dominance, proliferation, and hypertrophy/calcification. In young gerbils, height of the cartilaginous growth plate is thrice as large as in adult animals. Immediately under the growth plate there is an area of primary spongiosis consisting of tightly packed thin bone trabeculae with a cartilage in the center. In adult gerbils, trabeculae in the primary spongiosis are less numerous as compared with young animals; they are thicker and more apart. In young gerbils, primary spongiosis is higher than in adult animals. The primary spongiosis region grades into ill-defined secondary spongiosis. Not numerous trabeculae of the secondary spongiosis are thicker comparing with trabeculae of the primary spongiosis, more separated from one another and fully ossified. In adult gerbils, secondary spongiosis is a bit larger than in young animals, mostly due to thickening of the bone trabeculae.