Bone protection by estrens occurs through non–tissue-selective activation of the androgen receptor
J. Clin. Invest. Sara H. Windahl, et al. 116:2500
doi:10.1172/JCI28809 [Go to this article.]

Figure 9
Estren-α protects bone in ORX ERα–/– male mice by restoring bone turnover. ERα–/– mice were subjected to sham operation, ORX, or ORX and treatment with DHT or estren-α, each with or without coadministration of the anti-androgen RU58642. DHT and estren prevented the ORX-induced decreases in cancellous bone volume (A) and increases in osteoblast number (N.Ob/BS) (B), serum osteocalcin (OCN) (C), bone formation rate (D), and osteoclast number (E). The effects of both DHT and estren-α were abolished by the simultaneous delivery of the anti-androgen RU58642. *P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 versus ORX control mice.