[Experimental osteoporosis caused by estrogen deficiency in rats. Role of a lactose, L-arginine and L-lysine combination in the prevention and therapy].

The role of a lactose, L-arginine and L-lysine association in the treatment of osteoporosis was evaluated in an in vivo model. Fifty Sprague Dawley female rats, 10 months age, were divided into 5 groups: 10 non-ovariectomized animals sacrificed at the beginning of the study (I group); 10 ovariectomized animals (OVX) without treatment and sacrificed at three months (II group); 10 OVX animals without treatment sacrificed at 6 months; 10 OVX animals treated starting from the I post-operative day with the association for three months (IV group, prevention) and 10 OVX animals treated like those of the IV group starting three months after surgery (V group, therapy). Animals were sacrificed in general anesthesia according to the scheduled times for radiologic, densitometric, histologic and mineralogic investigations. Preliminary results, which will need further researches, seem to show a progressive reduction of bone mass after ovariectomy in 10 months female rat and that the pharmacological association given as therapy (V group) may be able to lessen the reduction of bone mineral content.