Effect of combined and single hormonal therapy with testosterone and estrogen in experimentally-induced osteoporosis in rats

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate the effect of 2 weeks treatment with estrogen, testosterone and combined estrogen with testosterone on ovariectomized and orchidectomized rats. Osteoporosis was induced in female rats by bilateral ovariectomy and in males by bilateral orchidectomy. Osteoporotic bone changes were detected 4 weeks after the induction by the use of biochemical markers [calcium, liver and kidney function and bone histopathological investigations]. The results showed that the administration of either estrogen or estrogen + testosterone in ovariectomized rats induced a significant decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT, creatinine, urea and urinary calcium. Also, testosterone alone or in combination with estrogen in orchidectomized rats prevented the rise in serum alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT, creatinine, urea and urinary calcium that were confirmed by histopathological changes. Its concluded that treatment with estrogen + testosterone resulted in beneficial effects on bone biochemical markers as well as bone histopathology in orchidectomized and ovariectomized male and female rats