Figure 5.

Mechanical tests of the tibia and lumbar vertebrae. (A) Maximal load, work to fracture and stiffness of the tibia (measured by three-point bend testing); (B) maximal load of the lumbar vertebral body (measured by compression test) is shown. GC treatment significantly decreased the maximum load, work to fracture and stiffness of tibia in the BALB/c and C57BL/6 strains compared to placebo. GC treatment significantly decreased maximal load in the C57BL/6 mice. Data are presented as mean ± SD, *p < 0.05 versus PL within the same strain.

GC = glucocorticoid; PL = placebo; SD = standard deviation; black = placebo; white = GC-treated groups.