Effects of prolonged aminoglutethimid and dehydroepiandrosterone treatment on rat bones

Authors studied the effect of prolonged sex hormone deficiency on some parameters of bone metabolism in calcitonin sensitive young male rats. 30 rats were given aminoglutethimid (AG) for 36 days. Part of these animals received plus dehydroepiandrosterone (DEA) treatment. Corticoid deficiency was substituted by cortisone. In addition 22 rats were administered only cortisone, 11 animals cortisone and DEA, and 10 rats only DEA for 36 days. On day 37 the different parameters of treated rats were compared to findings in 31 control animals. It has been found that body weight, calcitonin hypocalcaemia, serum alkaline phosphatase, as well as bone ash weight pro unit body weight was significantly lower in AG treated rats as compared to controls and rats receiving DEA in addition to AG. Values of latter group did not differ from controls. It has also been established that neither cortisone substitution nor isolated DEA treatment did involve significant differences in the studied parameters of bone metabolism as compared to controls. The findings support the opinion that sex hormone deficiency, directly or indirectly results osteoporosis. The experimental model seems to be suitable for the study of androgen deficient osteopenia.