The TRAP-11β-HSD2 trans-gene prevented the loss of BMD after prednisolone administration. Male wild-type and transgenic mice at 6.5 months of age were given placebo (plac) or prednisolone (pred) pellets for 7 d. A, Prevalence of vertebral cancellous os-teoblast apoptosis was evaluated histomorphometrically and values are given as the mean ± SD (n = 7–12). *, P < 0.001 vs. placebo. B, Osteoid perimeter. C, Osteoblast number per bone perimeter. D, Osteoclast number per bone perimeter. E, Bone formation rate per bone perimeter. Values are given as the mean ±SD (n = 7–8). *, P < 0.01 vs. wild type. F, Spinal BMD was measured at beginning and end of the experiment. Values, expressed as percent change from the initial BMD, are given as the mean ± SD (n = 8–12). *, P < 0.001 vs. placebo; **, P < 0.01 vs. wild type.