Effects of human PTH(1-34) and bisphosphonate on the osteopenic rat model

It has been demonstrated that the intermittent administration of human para thyroid hormone (hPTH) is beneficial for restoration of bone mass in osteop orotic patients. The mechanisms of anabolic effects of hPTH have been deter mined by ovariectomized rat models and other larger remodeling animals. How ever, treatment with hPTH may increase the cancellous bone mass at the expe nse of cortical bone mass and cessation of the treatment results in rapid b one loss. Efforts have been made to maintain newly formed bone mass after w ithdrawal of the hPTH treatment. These issues are not well understood. In t his article, the authors would like to represent previous studies of their own and others concerning these issues. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland L td. All rights reserved.