Elevated levels of growth hormone increase bone mineral content in normal young mice, but not in ovariectomized mice

Both estrogens and GH are necessary for normal bone remodeling. This study investigates the effect of elevated GH levels on the amount and density of bone in young female mice and its dependence on intact ovarian function. Metallothionein promoter-GH-transgenic mice were either sham operated or ovariectomized at 25-29 days of age, and the bone measurements were made at about 90 days of age. A 6-mm high cylinder containing only cortical bone was cut from the right tibia, and lumbar vertebrae 6 was measured as a bone with predominantly cancellous bone. The amounts of tibial and vertebral bone, measured by dry weight, mineral weight, organic weight, bone mineral content (measured by dual energy x-ray analysis), and volume, were increased in GH-transgenic animals compared to those in normal littermates. This stimulatory effect of elevated GH levels was not seen in ovariectomized mice. The real density of the tibial bone were slightly decreased in GH-transgenic animals compared to normal littermates. In conclusion, elevated levels of GH increase the amounts of vertebral (predominantly cancellous) bone and tibial (cortical) bone in young mice. Intact ovaries are a prerequisite for the stimulatory effect of elevated levels of GH. The fact that ovariectomy decreases the stimulatory effect of elevated GH levels suggests that the effect of elevated GH levels in bone is dependent upon the presence of basic sex steroid secretion.