Calcium-deficient diet in ovariectomized dogs limits the effects of 17 beta-estradiol and nandrolone decanoate on bone.

Postmortem measurements by dual-photon absorptiometry of the femur and the second lumbar vertebra in adult dogs indicated bone loss after ovariectomy, which was more pronounced when calcium-deficient diet was given in ovariectomized dogs. This bone loss was nonhomogeneous throughout the femur. Ovariectomy resulted in trabecular and cortical bone loss, and additional calcium-deficient diet resulted in a further highly significant trabecular bone loss at the proximal epiphysis of the femur and in the vertebra. This bone loss was presumably the result of increased bone turnover, as reflected by the highly significant increase in serum alkaline phosphatase. Estrogens could only partially prevent the bone loss induced by calcium deficiency after ovariectomy, and nandrolone decanoate was not effective. We conclude that (1) ovariectomy results in bone loss in adult dogs, (2) this bone loss is more pronounced after calcium-deficient diet, (3) calcium deficiency could be a limiting factor for the preventive effect of estrogens and nandrolone decanoate, and (4) dual-photon absorptiometry allows the evaluation of nonhomogeneous bone loss throughout excised bones.