ABSTRACT
Glucocorticoid is a kind of steroids hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex zona fasciculate or artificially synthesized. It can mediate the synthesis and metabolism of carbohydrate, lipid and protein and has the function of inhibiting immune response and anti-inflammation, anti-toxic and anti-shock effects. However, long-term intake of corticostereoid hormone will result in bone loss, even severe osteoporosis, and increase the risk of fracture. As a result the research on the mechanisms of osteoporosis become more and more necessary. Now, according to the differences in establishment methods, there are three approaches, i. e. pellet implantation, drinking water and injection. As a result of the only partial similarity between different osteoporosis models and humans, there is a special application of each type of animal model of osteoporosis. The osteoporosis in glucocorticoid-induced model is mainly caused by modulating incretion, promoting bone absorption and inhibiting the osteoblast differentiation. In the meanwhile, compared with the other animal models, genes in mice are closer to humans, and they have many advantages in cost, gene and cell techniques. Therefore, glucocorticoid-induced mouse models of osteoporosis has a great significance in osteoporosis research. This article will review the establishment methods of glucocorticoid-induced mouse models of osteoporosis.