Opposite effects of insulin-like growth factor-I on the formation of trabecular and cortical bone in adult female rats.

We have previously found that in intact adult female rats, 17 beta-estradiol (E2) stimulates trabecular bone formation, which can be detected by triple fluorochrome labeling within a few days of commencing E2 treatment. We have also observed that E2 stimulates trabecular bone formation in ovariectomised (Ovx) rats given 3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene bisphosphonate (AHPrBP). This anabolic action of E2 is presumably mediated through the local release of growth factors, of which insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a strong contender. To assess the role of IGF-I as mediator of the anabolic action of E2 on rat trabecular bone, we examined the effect of daily sc administration of IGF-I (200 micrograms/kg) for 17 days on trabecular bone formation at the proximal tibial metaphysis in experiments using the above two models. Intact animals received fluorochrome labels on days 1, 8, and 15 of IGF-I treatment, and Ovx animals received AHPrBP (0.3 mg/kg) on days 1, 8, and 15 and fluorochrome labels on days 8 and 15. Trabecular surfaces covered by first and second labels only (termed arrested surfaces), second and third labels only (induction surfaces), and all three labels (persisting surfaces) were assessed in intact animals; double labeled surfaces were assessed in Ovx animals. We found that IGF-I increased the longitudinal growth rate in both intact rats and Ovx animals given AHPrBP. However, to our surprise, we found that IGF-I inhibited trabecular bone formation in intact animals, reducing both arrested and persisting trabecular surfaces by approximately 50%. This was associated with a doubling of periosteal bone formation, as measured at the tibial diaphysis. In Ovx animals given AHPrBP, the AHPrBP markedly inhibited trabecular bone formation compared with that in Ovx controls, and IGF-I was without effect. We conclude that, in contrast to E2, IGF-I acts to increase the length and circumference of long bones and, perhaps through reactive mechanisms such as mechanical compensation, reduces rather than stimulates trabecular bone formation.