The effects of nandrolone decanoate on rarefying bone tissue

The effects of nandrolone decanoate on rarefying bone tissue were studied with the aid of microradiography and fluorescence microscopy in tetracycline-labelled preparations of the rabbit calcaneus and the long bones of old dogs. Osteoporosis was induced in the rabbit calcaneus by resecting of the Achilles tendon. In 20 of the 24 rabbits treated with nandrolone decanoate, the osteoporosis observed was less severe than in 8 untreated controls. Furthermore, in comparison with the controls, the signs of active osteogenesis in the treated groups increased systematically. In the old dogs, nandrolone decanoate caused a new opposition, identified by tetracycline labelling, to appear at the periphery of the medullary cavity. All the observations suggest that nandrolone decanoate has a favourable effect on osteogenetic phenomena and probably an inhibitory action on bone resorption. Consequently, nandrolone decanoate is capable of preventing or, at least, of partially correcting losses of bone mass.