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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Tension-Free Weight-Bearing Model of Steroid-Induced Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head in Rats
Published on: September 27, 2024
ACTH protects against glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis of bone
Mone Zaidi1, Li Sun, Lisa J Robinson
1The Mount Sinai Bone Program, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. mone.zaidi@mssm.edu
Abstract:
We report that adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) protects against osteonecrosis of the femoral head induced by depot methylprednisolone acetate (depomedrol). This therapeutic response likely arises from enhanced osteoblastic support and the stimulation of VEGF by ACTH; the latter is largely responsible for maintaining the fine vascular network that surrounds highly remodeling bone. We suggest examining the efficacy of ACTH in preventing human osteonecrosis, a devastating complication of glucocorticoid therapy.
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