Effects of Androgens, Estrogens and Corticoids on Strontium Kinetics in Man1

Abstract

The effects of estrogens, androgens and corticoids on kinetics of stable strontium metabolism were evaluated. The rapidly miscible pool volume, bone deposition rate and urinary excretion rate were determined before and after treatment of 67 subjects with androgens and estrogens, 44 subjects with corticoids and 34 subjects with placebos. Androgens and estrogens decreased urinary excretion rates and estrogens tended to decrease bone deposition. They thus appear to be anticatabolic for bone instead of anabolic, as previously thought. Estrogens may also be anti-anabolic. Corticoids did not decrease bone deposition rates, but did uniformly increase urinary excretion rates. They thus do not appear to be anti-anabolic for bone, as previously thought. Correction of bone deposition rates for fecal excretion rates did not affect the results. These studies did not reveal whether the changes in urinary excretion rates induced by both gonadal and glucocortlcold steroids were attributable to effects on the kidney, on the bone, or both.