Mandibular bone alterations of ovariectomized rats under vitamin D insufficiency.

Unlabelled: Experimental osteoporosis was studied in mandible bone by means of ovariectomy and vitamin D insufficiency.

Methods: 42 female Wistar rats were divided into the following four groups: (1) ovariectomized rats maintained in 12h day-night light conditions (ov-l), (2) ovariectomized rats maintained in 24h dark light conditions (ov-ob), (3) sham-operated rats maintained in 12h day-night light conditions (ch-l) and (4) sham-operated rats maintained in 24 h dark conditions (ch-ob). 12 weeks later the animals were sacrificed, the mandibles were excised, cleaned and weighed, the right side of the mandibles were histologically examined and the left side of the mandibles were prepared for mineral phase analysis by X-ray diffraction.