OBJECTIVETo probe the relationship between the osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OPG/OCIF) expression of bone and the relative bone-loss.

METHODSSteroid-induced osteonecrosis-model was reproduced in thirty-one new Zealand hares, and 24 ones were alive 3 days after administration of endotoxin and methylprednisolone. The alive creatures were divided into control group and trial groups randomly. After the creatures being executed, bone-density measurement of the femurs, HE staining, Ca(+ +) staining and OPG/OCIF immunohistochemistry staining were performed, followed by image processing and statistical analysis.

RESULTSIn the early period of steroid-induced osteonecrosis, the local OPG/OCIF expression significantly decreased, with a large number of osteoclasts in the local medulla, followed by a progressively bone-loss.

CONCLUSIONCorticosteroid could inhibit OPG/OCIF expression in the bone, increase the activity and differentiation of osteoclast relatively, and worsen bone-loss in steroid-induced osteonecrosis.