Histomorphometric effect of methionine on tibia in the chicken embryo as an animal model

Methionine is an essential sulfur-containing amino acid that is widely required for cartilage formation. Its undesirable effects should not be ignored on the etiology of bone diseases such as tibial dischondroplasia and bone organic matrix. In this study the histopathologic and histomorphometrical effects of methionine was evaluated on tibia in chicken embryo as an animal model. 30 fertilized eggs of the same weight (50±0.4 gr) Ross 308 broiler strains were divided into the control and treatment groups. On the day of 4 of incubation, controls received 0/5 ml of sterile PBS through the hole created at the wide end while, treatment groups were injected by 0/5ml of PBS solution which respectively had 30 and 50 mg methionine. On the day of 18, Eighteen, samples were taken from cross section of the mid of the tibia. Thickness of the cortex, diameter and cortex to diameter ratio, numbers and size of osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts were assessment histomorphometriacl.
Results showed that yolk sac injected methionine in chicken embryos, decreased bone formation and reduce the calcium sediment in the bone matrix. Also it caused to decrease the osteoblasts and osteocytes in number and measures that was against its effects on osteoclasts.
In conclusion, methionine–alone administration led to the osteoarthritis. It is hypothesized that methionine used with antioxidant supplements such as vitamin C.