The Effect of Cortisone and Anabolic Agents on Bone

Abstract

An excess of cortisone causes an osteoporosis which resembles that of Cushing’s syndrome (Sissons, 1956) and also the osteoporosis of the elderly (Valderrama and Little, 1965). Although the detailed mechanism has been only partially elucidated, anabolic agents have been used clinically to provide symtomatic relief, but practically nothing has been reported which might suggest a mechanism of action. In the present investigation rabbits were used as the experimental animal, and given cortisone alone, or an anabolic agent alone, or various combinations of the two. “Stromba” (17ß-hydroxy-17α-methylandrosteno(3.2-C)pyrazole) was the anabolic agent of choice as it is reported to give a typical anabolic action with minimal side effects.