Effect of Caffeine and Vitamin D3 on the proliferative and hypertrophy zones of epiphyseal cartilage of neonate mice Femur

Objective:   To evaluate 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 October 2014 to October 2015 (1 year). Material and Methods:   A total of thirty (30) pregnant BALB/c mice, weighing 26-28 g, were taken and divided into three equal groups of 10 mice each.  The control group G4 was given normal diet with water ad libitum.  In addition to the same diet, animals in experimental group G5 were given 10 mg of caffeine per 100 g body weight once a day on alternate days through oral gavage for 21 days.  All animals of group G6 for 21 days were given caffeine 10mg/100gm body weight on alternate day and vitamin D3 0.1µg per day by oral gavage.  At completion of the experiment, effect of caffeine and vitamin D3 on the height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of epiphyseal cartilage of neonate mice's femur was analysed.  Results:  The mean ±SD of height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of control group G4 animals was found to be 540±10.99μm and 164±6.609μm, respectively.  The mean ±SD of height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of experimental group G5 animals was observed as 443.5±12.258μm and 138.25±6.129μm, respectively.  The mean ± SD of height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of experimental group G6 animals was measured as 474±3.8388μm and 144.25±3.7257μm, respectively. Conclusion:   Caffeine intake modified the height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of the epiphyseal cartilage of developing femur; however treatment with vitamin D3 mitigated this effect. Key words:  Caffeine, Femur, Hypertrophy zone, Proliferative  zone, Vitamin D3.