Activin is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily and
is thought to be involved in the regulation of bone formation due to its pr
esence in bone tissue and its osteogenic activity both in vitro and in vivo
. We recently found that systemic administration of activin increased both
tibial bone mass and mechanical strength in young growing rats. The present
study investigated the effects of activin in aged ovariectomized (ovx) rat
s. Twelve-month-old Fischer rats were ovariectomized and maintained for 10
months. Recombinant human activin A (activin) or human parathyroid hormone
1-34 (PTH) was administered intramuscularly three times a week for 12 weeks
. Activin (1 and 5 mu g/kg) markedly increased lumbar vertebral bone minera
l content and bone mineral density. Activin also increased the mechanical s
trength of the vertebral body, which was highly correlated to the bone mine
ral density of the vertebral body. The maximal response in bone mass and st
rength was observed at 1 mu g/kg of activin, which was approximately equal
to that induced by PTH at 40 mu g/kg. Peripheral quantitative computed tomo
graphy revealed that activin enlarged the cross-sectional size of the verte
brae without changing the foramen area, indicating its effects on cortical
shells. Histomorphometric analysis of cancellous bone of vertebral body in
similar experiment showed that activin (3 mu g/kg) increased bone volume an
d the mineralizing surface, although its effects were less than PTH, The pr
esent results indicate that low doses of activin are effective against vert
ebral bone loss in aged ovx rats. (Bone 27:91-96; 2000) (C) 2000 by Elsevie
r Science Inc. All rights reserved.