Femoral Bone Microstructure in 1-Month-Old Non-transgenic versus Transgenic Rabbits with the <i>WAP-hFVIII</i> Gene Construct

Martiniaková, Monika; Omelka, R.; Grosskopf, B.; Smoláriková, V.; Bauerová, M.; Chrenek, P.

doi:10.14712/fb2008054010012

Fol. Biol. 2008, 54, 12-17

https://doi.org/10.14712/fb2008054010012

Femoral Bone Microstructure in 1-Month-Old Non-transgenic versus Transgenic Rabbits with the WAP-hFVIII Gene Construct

Monika Martiniaková¹, R. Omelka², B. Grosskopf³, V. Smoláriková², M. Bauerová², P. Chrenek^1,4

¹Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovak Republic
²Department of Botany and Genetics, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovak Republic
³Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
⁴Slovak Agricultural Research Centre, Nitra, Slovak Republic

Received September 2007
Accepted December 2007

Differences in microscopic structure of the femur between 1-month-old transgenic rabbits carrying the hFVIII gene and non-transgenic rabbits were investigated. Bone microstructure was evaluated from the point of view of qualitative and quantitative histological characteristics. We identified fibrolamellar bone tissue only in the transgenic animals. Measured values for area, perimeter of the Haversian canals and minimum diameter of the primary osteons’ vascular canals were higher in 1-month-old transgenic individuals (P < 0.05; P < 0.001). We also observed lower concentrations of Ca, P, K, solids, and total mineral content in femora of transgenic rabbits. A statistically significant difference was observed for the concentration of Ca (P < 0.05). Our results indicate evident changes in both qualitative and quantitative histological characteristics of the femur, which result especially in better blood supply and slightly reduced mineralization process in 1-month-old transgenic rabbits.