Experimental bone marrow alterations following single and multiple high-dose steroids in rabbits.

Abstract

Nineteen New Zealand white rabbits received one (n = 5), two (n = 5), or three (n = 9) injections of 60 mg methylprednisolone and were sacrificed 10, 20, 30, and 60 days following the last treatment. They were compared to 15 controls for histological examination of femoral and humeral epiphyses and femoral condyles. Treated animals had a significant rise in serum triglycerides (p less than 0.01) 10 days following treatment. 15 treated animals and 6 controls had grade I lesions of bone marrow (p less than 0.05). Lesions of grades II and III were only observed in 5 treated animals. The severity of histological lesions were not correlated with steroid doses. Tetracycline fixation was suppressed in treated rabbits.