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.