摘要：A glucocorticoid-induced osteopenia (GC-OP) model was developed in Wistar male rats to use for in vivo screening of anti-osteoporotic candidates. 1) Two week treatment with a wide dose range of methylprednisolone acetate (0.01 to 50mg/kg, s.c., 3d a week) and histomorphometry of the right tibia combined with histological study (n=3) allowed us to select 0.1mg/kg as a proper dose to produce a measurable degree of osteopenia. 2) Eight week treatment with the selected dosing regimen (n=6) of the steroid and histomorphometry including strut analysis measured the development of a characteristic osteopenia which can be described briefly as "uncut but thinning"of trabecular bone structure, and which was prevented by salmon calcitonin (0.33-10U/kg, s.c., 5 times/week) in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate the usability of this osteopenic model not only for screening of antiosteoporotics but also for study of the mechanism leading to GC-OP.
