Endocrinology, Vol 136, 1381-1387, Copyright © 1995 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Bone density is normal in male rats treated with finasteride

HN Rosen, S Tollin, R Balena, VL Middlebrooks, AC Moses, M Yamamoto, AJ Zeind and SL Greenspan
Charles A. Dana Research Institute, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.

Bone is an androgen-dependent tissue. It is not known whether normal bony growth and mineralization in males is dependent on testosterone alone, or whether its metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), also is required. To answer this question, we examined the effect of finasteride, an inhibitor of DHT synthesis, on bone in rats. Three- month-old male rats were treated with placebo, finasteride, or orchidectomy. The bone mineral densities (BMD) of the spine and whole body were measured in vivo by dual x-ray absorptiometry at weeks 0 and 11, and the BMD of the femur and tibia were measured ex vivo at week 11. Histomorphometric analysis was performed on the proximal tibia at week 11. The increase in spine and whole body BMD in finasteride- treated rats did not differ from that in controls, whereas these values were significantly lower in orchidectomized rats. Similarly, the BMD of the femur and tibia and the cancellous bone volume of the proximal tibia in finasteride-treated rats did not differ from those in controls, whereas these values were significantly lower in orchidectomized rats. In summary, bone development and density were normal in rats treated with finasteride. We conclude that selective DHT deficiency is not deleterious to the male rat skeleton.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. Gao, P. J. Reiser, C. C. Coss, M. A. Phelps, J. D. Kearbey, D. D. Miller, and J. T. Dalton Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator Treatment Improves Muscle Strength and Body Composition and Prevents Bone Loss in Orchidectomized Rats Endocrinology, November 1, 2005; 146(11): 4887 - 4897. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Vanderschueren, L. Vandenput, S. Boonen, M. K. Lindberg, R. Bouillon, and C. Ohlsson Androgens and Bone Endocr. Rev., June 1, 2004; 25(3): 389 - 425. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E. Compston Sex Steroids and Bone Physiol Rev, January 1, 2001; 81(1): 419 - 447. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Labrie, A. Belanger, L. Cusan, J.-L. Gomez, and B. Candas Marked Decline in Serum Concentrations of Adrenal C19 Sex Steroid Precursors and Conjugated Androgen Metabolites During Aging J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 1997; 82(8): 2396 - 2402. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Luo, C. Labrie, A. Belanger, and F. Labrie Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone on Bone Mass, Serum Lipids, and Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-Induced Mammary Carcinoma in the Rat Endocrinology, August 1, 1997; 138(8): 3387 - 3394. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]