Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of growth hormone on bone mineral density of corticosteoid-induced osteoporosis in male rat.

Method: Twenty Sprague-Dwaley male rats was studied, divided into four group, each group has 5 rats. The group 1 was treated with saline. The group 2 was treated with corticosteroid (Methylprednisolone 10 mg/kg). The group 3 was treated with corticosteroid and growth hormone (recombinant human growth hormone 0.5 IU/kg). The group 4 was treated with growth hormone after corticosteroid treatment. The treatment duration was 6 weeks for each group. After six weeks of hormone administration, the animals were sacrificed, the bilateral femur were removed and tested for bone mineral density using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and examined histomorphometrically.

Results: Administration of growth hormone after corticosteroid therapy, the growth hormone could reverse the decrease in body weight and bone mineral density induced by corticosteroid therapy (p＜0.05).

Conclusion: When growth hormone is administrated after corticosteroid therapy, the growth hormone can protect the osteoporosis in male rats induced by a high dose of corticosteroid.