The sheep as a model for osteoporosis in humans

There is great interest in large animal models for studying different aspects of osteoporosis. Several laboratories around the world have used ovariectomized sheep as a model because of their case of housing and handling, low expense compared to other large animals, availability and acceptance in society its it research animal. They have been used to study the response to new therapies for post-menopausal osteoporosis, low-magnitude mechanical stimulation. orthopedic implants in osteoporotic bone and bioactive ceramics to strengthen vertebral bodies. To produce severely osteopenic bone comparable to thin seen in humans, a combination of estrogen deficiency following ovariectomy plus a calcium-wasting diet is currently being investigated. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.