EFFECT OF NEONATAL GLUCOCORTICOID TREATMENT ON BONE MINERALIZATION OFADULT NONTREATED, DEXAMETHASONE-TREATED OR VITAMIN-D-3-TREATED RATS

1. Single neonatal dexamethasone (DEX) treatment significantly decreas ed the body weights of 5-month old male rats, There was no significant difference in females. 2. Bone mineral density (BMD) of neonatally DE X-treated male rats and bone mineral content (BMC) of double DEX-treat ed (neonatally and in adult age) males were reduced. 3. BMD and BMC ca lculated to body weight were highly significantly increased after neon atal or double DEX treatment in males. In females only BMC/body weight was elevated after double DEX treatment. 4. Adult vitamin D treatment completely compensated for the changes caused by single or double DEX treatment. 5. The results call attention to the imprinting effects of neonatal glucocorticoid treatment, which were manifested in changes o f body weight and bone mineral mass. At the same time the gender-depen dence of this phenomenon was demonstrated. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science I nc.