EFFECT OF CAFFEINE AND VITAMIN D3 ON PROLIFERATIVE AND HYPERTROPHY ZONES OF EPIPHYSEAL CARTILAGE OF MICE FEMUR

Caffeine and Vitamin D3

Abstract

Objective: To determine 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 Oct 2014 to Oct 2015.
Material and Methods: A total of thirty (30) BALB/c mice (15 male, 15 female), three weeks old and weighing
12-14 g, were taken and divided in to three equal groups of 10 mice each (5 male, 5 female). The control group G1
was given normal diet with water ad libitum. In addition to the same diet, animals in experimental group G2
were given 10 mg of caffeine per 100 g body weight once a day on alternate days through oral gav age for 60
days. All animals of group G3 for 60 days were given caffeine 10mg/100gm body weight on alternate day and
vitamin D3 0.1μg per day by oral gav age. At completion of the experiment, effect of caffeine and vitamin D3 on
the height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of epiphyseal cartilage of mice's femur was analyzed.
Results: The mean ± SD of height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of control group G1 animals was found
to be 31.5 ± 4.1μm and 43 ± 2.6μm, respectively. The mean ± SD of height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones
of experimental group G2 animals was observed as 59 ± 3.2μm and 72.5 ± 7.2μm, respectively. The mean ± SD of
height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of experimental group G3 animals was measured as 46 ± 4.6μm
and 54 ± 4.6μm, respectively.
Conclusion: Caffeine intake altered the height of proliferative and hypertrophy zones of the epiphyseal cartilage
of developing femur; however treatment with vitamin D3 ameliorated this effect.