Summary
We have shown that orchidectomy in postpubertal 55-day-old rats led beyond 2 months to a decrease in bone growth and loss of weight. At 1 month postorchidectomy, we observed a threefold increase in bone blood flow, an increase in calcium accretion rate, and an increase in the number of osteoclasts in the metaphysis. In the present experimental study, orchidectomy was performed in 1-year-old rats when bone growth in length was no longer measurable. In the tibia and femur we observed a decrease in bone volume, a still more rapid decrease of bone calcium during the first postoperative month, a thinning of the cortical width, an initial increase in calcium accretion rate (+20% when compared to 31 days controls) followed by a decrease at 120 days (−22% and−11% when compared to controls for tibia and femur respectively), a 29% increase in bone blood flow, and an increase in the number of osteoclasts. We conclude that androgen deprivation in young and old animals leads to a modified bone architecture, independent of the androgen impact on bone growth.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Schoutens A, Verhas M, L'hermite-Baleriaux M, L'hermite M, Verschaeren A, Dourov N, Mone M, Heilporn A, Tricot A (1984) Growth and bone haemodynamic responses to castration in male rats. Reversibility by testosterone. Acta Endocrinol 107:428–432
Schoutens A, Bergmann P, Verhas M (1979) Bone blood flow measured by Sr 85 microspheres and bone seeker clearances in the rat. Am J Physiol 236(1):H1–6
Wink G, Felts W (1980) Effects of castration on the bone structure of male rats: a model of osteoporosis. Calcif Tissue Int 32:77–82
Saville P (1969) Changes in skeletal mass and fragility with castration in the rats: a model of osteoporosis. Am Geriatr Soc 17:155–166
Jones H, Priest J, Hayes W, Chinn Tichenor C, Nagel D (1977) Humeral hypertrophy in response to exercice. J Bone J Surg 59-A:204–208
Baran D, Bergfeld M, Teitelbaum S, Avioli L (1978) Effect of testosterone therapy on bone formation in an osteoporotic hypogonadal male. Calcif Tissue Res 26:103–106
Foresta C, Ruzza G, Mioni R, Meneghello A, Baccichetti C (1983) Testosterone and bone loss in klinefelter syndrome. Horm Metabol Res 15:56–57
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Verhas, M., Schoutens, A., L'hermite-Baleriaux, M. et al. The effect of orchidectomy on bone metabolism in aging rats. Calcif Tissue Int 39, 74–77 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02553294
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02553294