Inhibitory action of sodium salicylate on the growth of upper jaw and tibia in rats.

The inhibitory effect of sodium salicylate on the growing upper jaw and tibia was examined by the morphological measurement by radiography at different dose levels. The longitudinal growth of the tibia was greater than the sagittal growth of the upper jaw in young normal rats. The increment in length was approximately 10 mm a month in the former and 3 mm a month in the latter. Growth of these bones was reduced by successive subcutaneous injections of sodium salicylate, and the reduction of growth increased with increase of the dose administered. Sagittal growth of the upper jaw was much more sensitive to the action of salicylate, and was significantly reduced by the drug even at a dose of 100 mg/kg (P less than 0.01).