Abstract: The research was carried out on 1-90 days old African ostrich chicks to study the morphological characteristics of tibia development. The length, weight and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and the developmental characteristics of microstructure and ultrastructure were measured and analyzed in the research. Results showed: ostrich chicks <90 days grew fast and the length, weight and BMD of the tibia all increased significantly and continuously. In the tibia of 1 day old bird, transitional trabeculae constituted the primary cancellous bone which constituted the early formation of backbone. Lots of osteoblasts cling to the surface of cartilage formed thin primary cancellous bone; transitional bone trabeculae were very thin. In the tibia of 45 days old bird, resorption was very active, transitional bone trabecula was absorbed by osteoclasts and then rebuilded. The calcification process of cartilage matrix was active. In the tibia of 90 days old bird, rudiment of new born compact bone and osteons had already existed but the mature bone was still not formed. The study provides foundation for the further study on the influencing factor about tibia development and its molecular mechanism. Simultaneously, it gives the theoretical basis for breeding disease prevention and treatment.
L. Wang, K.M. Peng, M. Chen, X.T. Zheng, T.T. Liu, C.Y. Jin and W.W. Cao, 2013. The Morphology Study on the Development of African Ostrich Tibia. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 12: 1478-1483.