title: Radiometrical, hormonal and biological correlates of skeletal growth in the female rat from birth to senescence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the skeletal growth profile of female rats from birth to senescence (100weeks) on the basis of sequential radiometrical, hormonal and biochemical parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Weaning rats entered the study which was divided into two sections: a) sequential measurements of vertebral and tibial growths and bone mineral density (BMD), estimation of mineral content of the entire skeleton (BMC) and chemical analysis of vertebral Ca; and b) determination of basal and pulsatile growth hormone (rGH), insulin-like growth hormone (IGF-I), estradiol (E2), parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin (OC) and urinary d-pyridinoline (dp) throughout the experimental period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vertebral and tibial growths ceased at week 25 whereas BMD and BMC as well as total vertebral Ca exhibited a peak bone mass at week 40. rGH pulsatile profiles were significantly higher in younger animals coinciding with the period of active growth and IGF-I peaked at 7weeks, slowly declining thereafter and stabilizing after week 60. OC and dp closely paralleled IGF-I coinciding with the period of enhanced skeletal growth, remaining thereafter in the low range indicative of reduced bone turnover. E2 increased during reproductive life but the lower values subsequently recorded were still in the physiological range, strongly suggesting a protective role of this steroid on bone remodeling. PTH followed a similar profile to E2, but the significance of this after completion of growth remains unclear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mechanisms governing skeletal growth in the female rat appear similar to those in humans. Bone progression and attainment of peak bone mass are under simultaneous control of rGH, IGF-I and calciotropic hormones and are modulated by E2. This steroid seems to protect the skeleton from resorption before senescence whereas the role of PTH in this context remains uncertain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Osteoporosis, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: osteoporose@insel.ch.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: del Pozo
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism; University Children's Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janner
authors.affiliation: Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.affiliation: Department of Osteoporosis, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arampatzis
authors.affiliation: Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Arnold K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: Department of Osteoporosis, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perrelet
authors.affiliation: Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ruch
authors.affiliation: Department of Osteoporosis, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lippuner
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zapf
authors.affiliation: Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lamberts
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism; University Children's Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Primus E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Mullis
mesh_terms: D065638:Absorption, Radiation; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology*; D011874:Radiometry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D008903:Minerals; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Biological correlates; Hormonal; Radiometrical; Skeletal growth