Effect of Neonatal Glucocorticoid Treatment on Bone Mineralization of Adult Nontreated, Dexamethasone-treated or Vitamin D3-treated Rats

1. Single neonatal dexamethasone (DEX) treatment significantly decreased the body weights of 5-month old male rats. There was no significant difference in females. 2. Bone mineral density (BMD) of neonatally DEX-treated male rats and bone mineral content (BMC) of double DEX-treated (neonatally and in adult age) males were reduced. 3. BMD and BMC calculated to body weight were highly significantly increased after neonatal or double DEX treatment in males. In females only BMC/body weight was elevated after double DEX treatment. 4. Adult vitamin D treatment completely compensated for the changes caused by single or double DEX treatment. 5. The results call attention to the imprinting effects of neonatal glucocorticoid treatment, which were manifested in changes of body weight and bone mineral mass. At the same time the gender-dependence of this phenomenon was demonstrated.