Animal models of bone physiology.
Because of the well-known technical difficulties in investigating the histology and physiology of the skeleton, bone physiology is not yet completely understood. Much new information has been obtained in recent years with in vitro investigations, but animal models are widely used when the overall effects of hormones or therapeutic agents or both need to be investigated. In this review, we discuss results obtained over the past year on several not yet completely understood topics. The effect of exercise on bone mass has been stressed by several authors, and at the cellular level, it has been suggested that the inositol cascade is the intracellular transduction pathway for mechanical stimuli. Ovariectomized rat systems have been widely used to demonstrate the protective effect of estrogen against bone resorption, and interesting indications of an estrogen-dependent stimulation of bone formation have been presented. The anabolic effect of low doses of fluoride has also been assessed.
Zallone
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AZ
Istituto di Anatomia Umana Normale, Bari, Italy.
Teti
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A
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow
D004967:Estrogens; D011453:Prostaglandins; D005459:Fluorides