Chronic venous hypertension in the tail of the Wistar rat.

Venous hypertension in the extremities has been associated with new bone formation and with degenerative joint disease. The relationship between increased intraosseous pressure and bone remodeling was investigated in the vertebrae of the tail of the Wistar rat. In 5 of 15 animals, prolonged venous hypertension resulted in osteoblastic activity with new bone formation. The vertebral changes observed are likened to those seen in some spinal degenerative diseases.