AKT	protein kinase B
ALP	alkaline phosphatase
BALP	bone-specific alkaline phosphatase
bFGF	basic fibroblast growth factor
BMC	bone mineral content (BMC)
BMD	bone mineral density
BMP	bone morphogenic protein
BMSC	bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells
BV/TV	bone fraction
c-FMS	colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor
Conn.D.	connectivity density
CTX	type I collagen crosslinked beta C-telopeptide
DPD	deoxypyridinoline
ER	oestrogen receptor
ERK	extracellular signal-regulated kinases
FasL	Fas ligand
bFGF	basic fibroblast growth factor
Hh	Hedgehog
HRT	hormonal replacement therapy
IGF	insulin-like growth factor
IL-6	interleukin 6
JNK	c-Jun N terminal kinase
MAPK	mitogen-activated protein kinase
M-CSF	macrophage colony-stimulating factor
mCT	micro-computed tomography
mRNA	messenger ribonucleic acid
mTOR	mechanistic target of rapamycin
NFAT-c1	Nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1
NFκB	nuclear factor-kappa B
Nrf2	nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2
NTX	type I collagen crosslinked N- telopeptide
OB	osteoblast
OC	osteoclast
OPG	osteoprotegerin
OSX	Osterix
P1NP	type I procollagen-N-propeptide
PDGF	platelet-derived growth factor
PI3K/AKT	phosphoinositide-3-kinase/serine-threonine protein kinase B
PLC	phospholipase C
pre-OB	pre-osteoblasts
pre-OC	pre-osteoclasts
PTH	parathyroid hormone
RANK	Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor κB
RANKL	Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor κB Ligand
RCT	randomized clinical trial
Runx2	Runt-related transcription factor 2
SERM	Selective Oestrogen Receptor Modulator
sFasL	soluble Fas lignad
SMI	Structural Model Inde
Tb.N.	number of trabeculae
Tb.Sp.	separation of trabeculae
Tb.Th.	trabecular thickness
TGFβ	tumour growth factor β
TRAF6	tumour necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6
TRAP 5b	Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b