On the effect of prednisolone on hamster bone

Over a period of 10.8 weeks 0.4, 4.0 or 40.0 mg, respectively of prednisolone bisuccinate/kg/day were injected intramuscularly into Syrian golden hamsters with a body weight of about 100 g. The dosage of 4.0 mg of prednisolone/kg did not produce any osteoporotic changes. The modulus of elasticity and the fracture load of the bones under investigation did not differ from the values obtained in control animals. At a dosage of 0.4 mg of prednisolone/kg/day the values of analysis (density, ash/cm3, calcium/cm3 and hydroxyproline/cm3) decreased by 5-8 percent, and at a dosage of 40.0 mg of prednisolone/kg/day even by 20-34 per cent as compared with the control group. The modulus of elasticity and the fracture load were significantly changed.