CHANGES IN BONE-MINERAL DENSITY OF LUMBAR VERTEBRAE AFTER PARTURITIONIN AFRICAN-GREEN MONKEYS (CERCOPITHECUS-AETHIOPS)

We examined the effect of lactation on the maternal bone components in laboratory-bred African green monkeys. Bone mineral density (BMD) wit h bone mineral content (BMC), bone area and mean width of lumbar verte brae (L3-L5) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Measurements were conducted at two-week intervals from parturition up to 40 weeks after parturition, The BMG and BMD values gradually decrea sed during the lactation period and then gradually increased after wea ning, but the BMC and BMD of the maternal lumbar vertebrae did not rec over completely to the values at parturition even at 40 weeks after pa rturition.