Oophorectomy and cortical bone remodeling in the beagle.

Cortical bone remodeling measurements were carried out on the ribs of 6 spayed and five control Beagle dams which had been subjected to a period of observation equal to more than one sigma of cortical bone remodeling activity. The results of the measurements of static and dynamic parameters indicate that the lack of ovarian hormones does not produce a major alteration in the rates of cortical bone remodeling, but does result in an increase in the number of resorption spaces per mm2 of cortical bone without altering the parameters of bone function. This latter fact supports the hypothesis that decreased levels of circulatory ovarian hormones may influence the duration of the resorption activity as well as possibly uncoupling the resorption/formation (R/F) mechanism of the bone remodeling unit.