Abstract: AIM: To observe the effects of D-galactose on the lumber vertebra body and investigate the reasons. METHODS: 12 rats at age of 6 months were divided into two groups, control group and D-galactose group (n =6 in each). The control group were administered saline solution sc, and the D-galactose group were administered 5 %D-galactose solution sc at dose of 100 mg·kg^-1. After 3 month, the rats were killed by exsanguination from heart. The fourth lumber vertebra was taken and immerged in formalin. The testicle were taken and immerged in formalin at the same time. The blood serum was collected by centrifugating the collected blood after resting for a while, and it was preserved in refrigeratory at the degree of-70 ℃.The vertebra body were embedded in plastic and sliced up after being dehydrated step by step with different concentration ethanol. The slices were analyzed under the image analysis apparatus. The testicle were made into paraffin slices and observed under the common microscope. The concentration of serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone were measured by radio-immunity assay. RESULTS: The lumber vertebra body in D-galactose group appeared osteoporosis. The serum testosterone hormone concentrations of D-galactose rats were significantly decreased. And the microstructure of testicle present aging change, but no change of serum LH concentration was observed. CONCLUTION: D-galactose can cause the osteoporosis in male rats, which may be related to affect the function of thalamus-pituitary-testicle axis, decrease the content of testosterone of D-galactose.

Key words: D-galactose, osteoporosis testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH)