Cited by 717Bone Metabolism and DiseasesBone health and osteoporosis researchEstrogen and related hormone effects

Androgens and Bone

Vanderschueren, Dirk, Vandenput, Liesbeth, Boonen, Steven, Lindberg, Marie K., Bouillon, Roger, Ohlsson, Claes·2004·Endocrine Reviews

Abstract

Loss of estrogens or androgens increases the rate of bone remodeling by removing restraining effects on osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis, and also causes a focal imbalance between resorption and formation by prolonging the lifespan of osteoclasts and shortening the lifespan of osteoblasts. Conversely, androgens, as well as estrogens, maintain cancellous bone mass and integrity, regardless of age or sex. Although androgens, via the androgen receptor (AR), and estrogens, via the estrogen receptors (ERs), can exert these effects, their relative contribution remains uncertain. Recent studies suggest that androgen action on cancellous bone depends on (local) aromatization of androgens into estrogens. However, at least in rodents, androgen action on cancellous bone can be directly mediated via AR activation, even in the absence of ERs. Androgens also increase cortical bone size via stimulation of both longitudinal and radial growth. First, androgens, like estrogens, have a biphasic effect on endochondral bone formation: at the start of puberty, sex steroids stimulate endochondral bone formation, whereas they induce epiphyseal closure at the end of puberty. Androgen action on the growth plate is, however, clearly mediated via aromatization in estrogens and interaction with ERα. Androgens increase radial growth, whereas estrogens decrease periosteal bone formation. This effect of androgens may be important because bone strength in males seems to be determined by relatively higher periosteal bone formation and, therefore, greater bone dimensions, relative to muscle mass at older age. Experiments in mice again suggest that both the AR and ERα pathways are involved in androgen action on radial bone growth. ERβ may mediate growth-limiting effects of estrogens in the female but does not seem to be involved in the regulation of bone size in males. In conclusion, androgens may protect men against osteoporosis via maintenance of cancellous bone mass and expansion of cortical bone. Such androgen action on bone is mediated by the AR and ERα.

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Crossref · 10.1210/er.2003-0003

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448 of 448 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The systemic factors important to the maintenance of bone homeostasis include parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), glucocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens.

    “The systemic factors which are important to the maintenance of bone homeostasis include parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), glucocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens [16, 147–150].”
  • Osteocyte apoptosis acts as a chemotactic signal for local osteoclast recruitment.

    “Osteocyte apoptosis has been shown to act as a chemotactic signal for local osteoclast recruitment [70, 150, 152, 190, 191].”

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Authors
Vanderschueren, D., Vandenput, L., Boonen, S., Lindberg, M. K., Bouillon, R., & Ohlsson, C.
Affiliations
  • Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology (D.V., L.V., S.B., R.B.)
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE)
Corresponding author
Ohlsson, Claes
Venue
Endocrine Reviews
Published
2004-06-01
Volume
25
Issue
3
Pages
389-425
ISSN
  • 0163-769X (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7189
OpenAlex
W2171434323
Cited by
717
References
448
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 49
FWCI
3.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Endocrine Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bone Metabolism and Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
Keywords
androgens, bone remodeling, androgen receptor, estrogen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, estrogen receptor beta, aromatization, trabecular bone, endochondral ossification, epiphyseal closure, growth plate, periosteal bone formation, osteoporosis prevention, sex steroids, osteoblastogenesis, osteoclastogenesis
MeSH terms
Androgens, Animals, Bone and Bones, Clinical Trials as Topic, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Male, Osteoblasts, Osteoclasts, Osteoporosis, Receptors, Androgen, Receptors, Estrogen, Sex Factors, Bone Density, Bone Remodeling, Estrogen Receptor alpha, Estrogen Receptor beta

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