On the action of prednisolone and ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) on rabbit bone

Ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) (0.1 mg and 1 mg P/kg) and prednisolone (3.7 mg/kg) were administered separately and in combination to young rabbits for a period of 100 days. The results of the experiment show that EHDP is able to reduce the loss of bone substance per unit volume caused by prednisolone. The histological changes in the epiphyseal cartilage noted after prednisolone are not influenced by diphosphonate. The marked formation of fat marrow demonstrable in the prednisolone group does not occur in the prednisolone-diphosphonate group.