Changes in bone mineral density of lumbar vertebrae after parturition in African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops).

We examined the effect of lactation on the maternal bone components in laboratory-bred African green monkeys. Bone mineral density (BMD) with bone mineral content (BMC), bone area and mean width of lumbar vertebrae (L3-L5) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Measurements were conducted at two-week intervals from parturition up to 40 weeks after parturition. The BMC and BMD values gradually decreased during the lactation period and then gradually increased after weaning, but the BMC and BMD of the maternal lumbar vertebrae did not recover completely to the values at parturition even at 40 weeks after parturition.