The Effect of Calcitonin on Osteoporosis of the Rat Hind Limb Induced by Denervation and Isograft Transplantation

ABSTRACT

The effects of both isograft transplantation and immobilization by sciatic and femoral neurotomy on bone changes in the tibia were studied in adult rats. The effects of the administration of (Asu^1,7)-eel calcitonin on bone changes in the tibia induced by the same procedures were also examined. Bone volume, dry weight, ash weight, calcium weight, and strength were measured. Bone density of the tibia in the isograft transplantation group was less than that of the immobilization group, indicating that the osteoporosis induced by sciatic and femoral neurotomy and isograft transplantation differed. (Asu^1,7)-eel calcitonin increased tibia bone density, ash per volume, calcium per volume, and phosphorus per volume, when subjected to isograft transplantation but not in sciatic neurotomy. Bone atrophy induced by immobilization through sciatic and femoral neurotomy and that induced by isograft transplantation were thus shown to differ.