Endocrine Abstracts

The process of bone remodelling enables the conservation of an optimal bone mass and properties during adult life. Recent evidences, based on genetic and pharmacological data, revealed that this process is under the control of hypothalamic and neuronal signals released by sympathetic nerves in the bone microenvironment. The implication of these findings is that bone remodelling can be considered as a classical homeostatic process, coupled and fully integrated with other endocrine systems of the body. These studies also revealed that beta2 adrenergic receptors in osteoblasts mediate the anti-osteogenic effect of autonomic nerves, and that pharmacological blockade of b2 adrenergic receptor signalling by beta-blockers can increase bone mass in mice and rats. These findings as well as their clinical implications will be discussed.