Effect of hydrocortisone on total body calcium in rats

Administration of 5 mg. of hydrocortisone acetate to rats every other day for 2 weeks resulted in growth retardation and weight loss as indicated by body weights of experimental animals, which averaged 33 per cent lower than those of the controls, and a significant decrease in the length of the tibiae and femurs (p less than 0.01 for treated vs controls). However, despite the smaller size of the treated animals, the values for total body calcium (TBCa) and the calcium in the tibia and femur did not differ significantly from control values. Thus, there was more calcium per unit length of bone, resulting in an increase in the skeletal density of treated rats. This finding was confirmed by x-ray examination of these bones. The net intestinal absorption of calcium (rate of initial entry) calculated from plasma levels following an oral and intravenous dose of 47Ca and 85Sr, respectively, was not significantly different in hydrocortisone-treated rats compared to controls. This would indicate that the rate of intestinal absorption of calcium is unimpaired despite the administration of massive doses and corticosteroids. When the animals were placed on a calcium-deficient diet, both TBCa and tibia and femur calcium levels were decreased. Subsequent administration and hydrocortisone did not alter the calcium values. The results of this study are compatible with the hypothesis that hydrocortisone promotes weight loss, retards growth, but inhibits the rate of bone resorption.