Effect of glucocorticoids on bone resorption in tissue culture.

Abstract

Cortisol at 10-6M significantly inhibited the stimulation of bone resorption produced by vitamin A, prostaglandin E1 and dibutyryl cyclic 3’,5’-adenosine monophosphate in continuous culture but was less effective in inhibiting the response to parathyroid hormone (PTH) or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (HCC). However, in induction experiments when cortisol (10-5 - 10-6M) was given before and during a brief application of PTH or 25-HCC, the subsequent resorptive response was blocked. This effect was specific for steroids with glucocorticoid activity. When cortisol at 10-6 to 10-8M was added after induction by PTH or 25-HCC, it was ineffective in inhibiting resorption by itself but could enhance the inhibitory effects of salmon calcitonin (SCT). SCT alone produced a transient inhibition of resorption in bones previously induced with PTH, followed by escape. When cortisol and SCT were given together the inhibition of resorption was greater than with SCT alone and escape was prevented. (Endocrinology 90: 961, 1972)