title: Androgen-accelerated bone maturation in mice is not attenuated by Faslodex, an estrogen receptor blocker.
abstract: Androgens accelerate bone maturation, but it is unclear to what extent this process may be mediated by estrogens derived from aromatization of androgens. In this study, we investigated whether an estrogen-blocking agent, Faslodex (ICI 182,780), can attenuate testosterone-accelerated skeletal maturation in immature mice. On days of life 2-8, mouse pups received either testosterone propionate (50 microg/100 g body weight), Faslodex (100 microg/100 g body weight), a combination of Faslodex + testosterone, or vehicle alone. Skeletal maturation was assessed in the forepaw and the lumbar spine. Testosterone caused acceleration of bone maturation (p < 0.05, compared with vehicle), predominantly of axial bones. Faslodex, however, failed to block the effect of testosterone, such that the mice receiving Faslodex + testosterone had skeletal maturation scores similar to those treated with testosterone alone. These results suggest that androgens have the capacity to stimulate bone maturation directly, probably via their own receptors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Gunther
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Calikoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol