Effect of Melanotan-II on Brain Fos Immunoreactivity and Oxytocin Neuronal Activity and Secretion in Rats.

Melanocortins stimulate the central oxytocin systems that are involved in regulating social behaviours. Alterations in central oxytocin have been linked to neurological disorders such as autism, and melanocortins have been proposed for therapeutic treatment. In the present study, we investigated how systemic administration of melanotan-II (MT-II), a melanocortin agonist, affects oxytocin neuronal activity and secretion in rats. The results obtained show that i.v., but not intranasal, administration of MT-II markedly induced Fos expression in magnocellular neurones of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the hypothalamus, and this response was attenuated by prior i.c.v. administration of the melanocortin antagonist, SHU-9119. Electrophysiological recordings from identified magnocellular neurones of the SON showed that i.v. administration of MT-II increased the firing rate in oxytocin neurones but did not trigger somatodendritic oxytocin release within the SON as measured by microdialysis. Our data suggest that, after i.v., but not intranasal, administration of MT-II, the activity of magnocellular neurones of the SON is increased. Because previous studies showed that SON oxytocin neurones are inhibited in response to direct application of melanocortin agonists, the actions of i.v. MT-II are likely to be mediated at least partly indirectly, possibly by activation of inputs from the caudal brainstem, where MT-II also increased Fos expression.

Measuring Oxytocin and Vasopressin: Bioassays, Immunoassays and Random Numbers.

In this review, we consider the ways in which vasopressin and oxytocin have been measured since their first discovery. Two different ways of measuring oxytocin in widespread use currently give values in human plasma that differ by two orders of magnitude, and the values measured by these two methods in the same samples show no correlation. The notion that we should accept this seems absurd. Either one (or both) methods is not measuring oxytocin, or, by 'oxytocin', the scientists that use these different methods mean something very different. If these communities are to talk to each other, it is important to validate one method and invalidate the other, or else to establish exactly what each community understands by 'oxytocin'. A similar issue concerns vasopressin: again, different ways of measuring vasopressin give values in human plasma that differ by two orders of magnitude, and it appears that the same explanation for discrepant oxytocin measurements applies to discrepant vasopressin measurements. The first assays for oxytocin and vasopressin measured biological activity directly. When immunoassays were introduced, they encountered problems: high molecular weight factors in raw plasma interfered with the binding of antibodies to the hormones, leading to high and erroneous readings. When these interfering factors were removed by extraction of plasma samples, immunoassays gave measurements consistent with bioassays, with measures of turnover and with the sensitivity of target tissues to exogenous hormone. However, many recent papers use an enzyme-linked immunoassay to measure plasma levels without extracting the samples. Like the first radioimmunassays of unextracted plasma, this generates impossibly high and wholly erroneous measurements.

A Direct Neurokinin B Projection from the Arcuate Nucleus Regulates Magnocellular Vasopressin Cells of the Supraoptic Nucleus.

Central administration of neurokinin B (NKB) agonists stimulates immediate early gene expression in the hypothalamus and increases the secretion of vasopressin from the posterior pituitary through a mechanism that depends on the activation of neurokinin receptor 3 receptors (NK3R). The present study reports that, in the rat, immunoreactivity for NK3R is expressed in magnocellular vasopressin and oxytocin neurones in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, and that NKB immunoreactivity is expressed in fibres in close juxtaposition with vasopressin neurones at both of these sites. Retrograde tracing in the rat shows that some NKB-expressing neurones in the arcuate nucleus project to the SON and, in mice, using an anterograde tracing approach, it is found that kisspeptin-expressing neurones of the arcuate nucleus, which are known to co-express NKB, project to the SON and PVN. Finally, i.c.v. injection of the NK3R agonist senktide is shown to potently increase the electrical activity of vasopressin neurones in the SON in vivo with no significant effect detected on oxytocin neurones. The results suggest that NKB-containing neurones in the arcuate nucleus regulate the secretion of vasopressin from magnocellular neurones in rodents, and the possible significance of this is discussed.

An implementation of a spike-response model with escape noise using an avalanche diode.

This paper introduces a novel probabilistic spike-response model through the combination of avalanche diode-generated Poisson distributed noise, and a standard exponential decay-based spike-response curve. The noise source, which is derived from a 0.35-µm single-photon avalanche diode (kept in the dark), was tested experimentally to verify its characteristics, before being combined with a field-programmable gate-array implementation of a spike-response model. This simple model was then analyzed, and shown to reproduce seven of eight behaviors recorded during an extensive study of the ventral medial hypothalamic (VMH) region of the brain. It is thought that many of the cell types found within the VMH are fed from a tonic noise synaptic input, where the patterns generated are a product of their spike response and not their interconnection. This paper shows how this tonic noise source can be modelled, and due to the independent nature of the noise sources, provides an avenue for the exploration of networks of noise-fueled neurons, which play a significant role in pattern generation within the brain.

Central release of oxytocin and the ventromedial hypothalamus.

Recent studies on the regulation of social behaviours by neuropeptides indicate that it is the distribution of peptide receptor expression in particular brain areas that determines the specificity of peptide actions; and that, accordingly, peptides can evoke specific behaviours when administered centrally without temporal or spatial selectivity of administration. The release of neuropeptides at synaptic sites appears irrelevant, and in the brain, some peptides are released mainly from dendrites rather than from nerve endings. Dendritic peptide release can be long lasting, semi-independent of electrical activity, and allows the diffusion of peptides to distant targets. The peptide oxytocin regulates many behaviours; in particular, it inhibits food intake. Centrally, oxytocin is released in large amounts by the dendrites of hypothalamic magnocellular neurons. This mini-review considers the possible involvement of dendritically released oxytocin in the regulation of food intake by its actions on the ventromedial hypothalamus.

Bistability with hysteresis in the activity of vasopressin cells.

Magnocellular vasopressin neurones generate distinctive 'phasic' patterns of electrical activity during which periods of spiking activity (bursts) alternate with periods of no spikes or occasional spikes. The mechanisms of burst termination in vivo are still not clearly understood. We recorded from single phasic vasopressin cells in vivo and here we show that burst terminations in some phasic cells is preceded by transient increases in activity, consistent with bursts ending as a result of activity-dependent inhibition. We show that extrinsically imposed increases in activity, evoked by brief stimulation of the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, can either trigger bursts if given when a cell is silent, or stop bursts if given when a cell is active. Thus, the magnocellular vasopressin system is a population of independent bistable oscillators. The population as a whole is insensitive to transient changes in input level, whether these are excitatory or inhibitory. The vasopressin cell population thus acts like a 'low-pass filter'; although brief large changes in input rate have little overall effect, the population responds very effectively to small, sustained changes in input rate by evolving a pattern of discharge activity that efficiently maintains secretion. We note that these filtering characteristics are the opposite of the filtering characteristics that are typically associated with neurones.

alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone and oxytocin: a peptide signalling cascade in the hypothalamus.

alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and oxytocin share remarkable similarities of effects on behaviour in rats; in particular, they both inhibit feeding behaviour and stimulate sexual behaviour. Recently, we showed that alpha-MSH interacts with the magnocellular oxytocin system in the supraoptic nucleus; alpha-MSH induces the release of oxytocin from the dendrites of magnocellular neurones but it inhibits the secretion of oxytocin from their nerve terminals in the posterior pituitary. This effect of alpha-MSH on supraoptic nucleus oxytocin neurones is remarkable for two reasons. First, it illustrates the capacity of magnocellular neurones to differentially regulate peptide release from dendrites and axons and, second, it emphasises the putative role of magnocellular neurones as a major source of central oxytocin release, and as a likely substrate of some oxytocin-mediated behaviours. The ability of peptides to differentially control secretion from different compartments of their targets indicates one way by which peptide signals might have a particularly significant effect on neuronal circuitry. This suggests a possible explanation for the striking way in which some peptides can influence specific, complex behaviours.

Intracellular calcium increase and somatodendritic vasopressin release by vasopressin receptor agonists in the rat supraoptic nucleus: involvement of multiple intracellular transduction signals.

Vasopressin neurones of the supraoptic nucleus are autoregulated by vasopressin released from their soma and dendrites. Vasopressin binds to specific autoreceptors to trigger an influx of Ca(2+), and this response involves both phospholipase C (PLC) and adenylate cyclase (AC) pathways that, in the periphery, are activated by V(1) (V(1a) and V(1b))- and V(2)-type receptors. To investigate the pathways involved in the [Ca(2+)](i) response, [Ca(2+)](i) measurements were made on freshly dissociated neurones using Fura-2 microspectrofluorimetry, and vasopressin release was measured from isolated supraoptic nuclei. The [Ca(2+)](i) increase and vasopressin release induced by the V(1a) agonist were strongly inhibited by a PLC blocker, an IP(3) receptor antagonist, and a PKC blocker. An AC inhibitor did not affect the V(1a) response, while PKA inhibitors significantly reduced the V(1a)-induced [Ca(2+)](i) and release responses. The [Ca(2+)](i) increase and vasopressin release elicited by the V(2) agonist were attenuated not only by AC pathway blockers, but also by PLC inhibitors. Surprisingly, the V(1b) agonist showed no [Ca(2+)](i) or vasopressin release response. In conclusion, the V(1a) agonist activates both PLC and AC pathway, confirming the functional expression of a V(1a) vasopressin receptor on vasopressin neurones. The V(2) agonist activation of both PLC and AC pathways could result from an action on the PLC-linked unknown receptor, and/or the AC-linked dual angiotensin II-vasopressin receptor.

Taurine selectively modulates the secretory activity of vasopressin neurons in conscious rats.

Previous experiments have shown that a 10-min forced swimming session triggers the release of vasopressin from somata and dendrites, but not axon terminals, of neurons of the hypothalamic-neurohypophysial system. To further investigate regulatory mechanisms underlying this dissociated release, we forced male Wistar rats to swim in warm (20 degrees C) water and monitored release of the potentially inhibitory amino acids gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and taurine into the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus using microdialysis. Forced swimming caused a significant increase in the release of taurine (up to 350%; P < 0.05 vs. prestress release), but not GABA. To reveal the physiological significance of centrally released taurine, the specific taurine antagonist 6-aminomethyl-3-methyl-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide was administered into the supraoptic nucleus via retrodialysis. Administration of this antagonist caused a significant increase in the release of vasopressin within the supraoptic nucleus and into the blood both under basal conditions and during stress (up to 800%; P < 0.05 vs. basal values), without affecting hypothalamic or plasma oxytocin. Local administration of the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline, in contrast, failed to influence vasopressin secretion at either time point. In a separate series of in vivo electrophysiological experiments, administration of the same dosage of the taurine antagonist into the supraoptic nucleus via microdialysis resulted in an increased electrical activity of identified vasopressinergic, but not oxytocinergic, neurons. Taken together our data demonstrate that taurine is released within the supraoptic nucleus during physical/emotional stress. Furthermore, at the level of the supraoptic nucleus, taurine inhibits not only the electrical activity of vasopressin neurons but also acts as an inhibitor of both central and peripheral vasopressin secretion during different physiological states.

Intracellular calcium signalling in magnocellular neurones of the rat supraoptic nucleus: understanding the autoregulatory mechanisms.

Oxytocin and vasopressin, released at the soma and dendrites of neurones, bind to specific autoreceptors and induce an increase in [Ca2+]i. In oxytocin cells, the increase results from a mobilisation of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, whereas in vasopressin cells, it results mainly from an influx of Ca2+ through voltage-dependent channels. The response to vasopressin is coupled to phospholipase C and adenylyl-cyclase pathways which are activated by V1 (V1a and V1b)- and V2-type receptors respectively. Measurements of [Ca2+]i in response to V1a and V2 agonists and antagonists suggest the functional expression of these two types of receptors in vasopressin neurones. The intracellular mechanisms involved are similar to those observed for the action of the pituitary adenylyl-cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP). Isolated vasopressin neurones exhibit spontaneous [Ca2+]i oscillations and these are synchronised with phasic bursts of electrical activity. Vasopressin modulates these spontaneous [Ca2+]i oscillations in a manner that depends on the initial state of the neurone, and such varied effects of vasopressin may be related to those observed on the electrical activity of vasopressin neurones in vivo.

V1a- and V2-type vasopressin receptors mediate vasopressin-induced Ca2+ responses in isolated rat supraoptic neurones.

1. The pharmacological profile of receptors activated by vasopressin (AVP) in freshly dissociated supraoptic magnocellular neurones was investigated using specific V1a- and V2-type AVP receptor agonists and antagonists. 2. In 97 % of AVP-responding neurones (1-3000 nM) V1a or V2 receptor type agonists (F-180 and dDAVP, respectively) elicited dose-dependent [Ca2+]i transients that were suppressed by removal of external Ca2+. 3. The [Ca2+]i response induced by 1 microM F-180 or dDAVP was selectively blocked by 10 nM of V1a and V2 antagonists (SR 49059 and SR 121463A, respectively). The response to V1a agonist was maintained in the presence of the V2 antagonist, and the V2 agonist-induced response persisted in the presence of the V1a antagonist. 4. The [Ca2+]i response induced by 1 microM AVP was partially (61 %) blocked by 10 nM SR 121463A. This blockade was increased by a further 31 % with the addition of 10 nM SR 49059. Similarly, the AVP-induced response was partially (47 %) decreased by SR 49059, and a further inhibition of 33 % was achieved in the presence of SR 121463A. 5. We demonstrate that AVP acts on the magnocellular neurones via two distinct types of AVP receptors that exhibit the pharmacological profiles of V1a and V2 types. However, since V2 receptor mRNA is not expressed in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), and since V1b receptor transcripts are observed in the SON, we propose that the V2 receptor agonist and antagonist act on a 'V2-like' receptor or a new type of AVP receptor that remains to be elucidated. The possibility that V2 ligands act on the V1b receptor cannot be excluded.

Activation of multiple intracellular transduction signals by vasopressin in vasopressin-sensitive neurones of the rat supraoptic nucleus.

1. The intracellular mechanisms activated by the binding of vasopressin to its receptor(s) and which result in the increase of [Ca2+]i were investigated in freshly dissociated supraoptic nucleus neurones. Various pharmacological agents were used to investigate the possible involvement of phospholipase C (PLC) and adenylate cyclase (AC) intracellular pathways in the transduction of the vasopressin action. 2. Both the PLC inhibitor U-73122 and the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor calphostin C, reduced the [Ca2+]i rise elicited by vasopressin. The cAMP analogue, 8-Br-cAMP produced an increase in [Ca2+]i and IBMX, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, potentiated the response to vasopressin. 3. After pre-incubation with the AC inhibitor SQ-22536, 7 out of 18 vasopressin-sensitive neurones showed no inhibition of the vasopressin response, while the response to vasopressin was reduced by greater than 35 % in each of the other 11 neurones. 4. The activation of protein kinase A (PKA) with Sp-cAMPS caused an increase in [Ca2+]i which was additive to the vasopressin-elicited [Ca2+]i increase. After incubation with the PKA inhibitors Rp-cAMPS or H-89, the [Ca2+]i responses triggered by Sp-cAMPS and vasopressin were, respectively, abolished and greatly reduced. 5. A combined administration of SQ-22536 (AC inhibitor) followed by U-73122 (PLC inhibitor), or U-73122 followed by H-89 (PKA inhibitor), virtually abolished the response to vasopressin. 6. In vasopressin-responsive neurones, the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) induced a [Ca2+]i increase similar to the response to vasopressin and in both cases the increase was inhibited to the same extent by a combination of U-73122 and Rp-cAMPS. 7. In conclusion, we suggest that the autoregulation exerted specifically by vasopressin on vasopressin-sensitive neurones involves the activation of both PLC- and AC-linked pathways.

Functional studies of twelve mutant V2 vasopressin receptors related to nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: molecular basis of a mild clinical phenotype.

X-linked nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a rare disease with defective renal and extrarenal arginine vasopressin V2 receptor responses due to mutations in the AVPR2 gene in Xq28. To study the cause of loss of function of mutant V2 receptors, we expressed 12 mutations (N55H, L59P, L83Q, V88M, 497CC-->GG, deltaR202, I209F, 700delC, 908insT, A294P, P322H, P322S) in COS-7 cells. Eleven of these, including P322H, were characterized by a complete loss of function, but the mutation P322S demonstrated a mild clinical and in vitro phenotype. This was characterized by a late diagnosis without any growth or developmental delay and a significant increase in urine osmolality after intravenous 1-deamino[D-Arg8]AVP administration. In vitro, the P322S mutant was able to partially activate the Gs/adenylyl cyclase system in contrast to the other V2R mutants including P322H, which were completely inactive in this regard. This showed not only that Pro 322 is important for proper V2R coupling, but also that the degree of impairment is strongly dependent on the identity of the substituting amino acid. Three-dimensional modeling of the P322H and P322S mutant receptors suggested that the complete loss of function of the P322H receptor could be due, in part, to hydrogen bond formation between the His 322 side chain and the carboxyl group of Asp 85, which does not occur in the P322S receptor.

New aspects of firing pattern autocontrol in oxytocin and vasopressin neurones.

In the rat, oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) neurones exhibit specific electrical activities which are controlled by OT and AVP released from soma and dendrites within the magnocellular hypothalamic nuclei. OT enhances amplitude and frequency of suckling-induced bursts, and changes basal firing characteristics: spike patterning becomes very irregular (spike clusters separated by long silences), firing rate is highly variable, oscillating before facilitated bursts. This unstable behaviour which markedly decreases during hyperosmotic stimulation (interrupting bursting) could be a prerequisite for bursting. The effects of AVP depend on the initial phasic pattern of AVP neurones: AVP excites weakly active neurones (increasing burst duration, decreasing silences) and inhibits highly active neurones; neurones with intermediate phasic activity are unaffected. Thus, AVP ensures all AVP neurones discharge with moderate phasic activity (bursts and silences lasting 20-40 s), known to optimise systemic AVP release. V1a-type receptors are involved in AVP actions. In conclusion, OT and AVP control their respective neurones in a complex manner to favour the patterns of activity which are the best suited for an efficient systemic hormone release.

L-, N- and T- but neither P- nor Q-type Ca2+ channels control vasopressin-induced Ca2+ influx in magnocellular vasopressin neurones isolated from the rat supraoptic nucleus.

1. The role of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels during vasopressin and oxytocin actions on their respective neurones has been analysed by measuring intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in individual, freshly dissociated magnocellular neurones from rat supraoptic nucleus (SO) using microspectrofluorimetry. 2. Pre-incubation of vasopressin-sensitive neurones with Cd2+ (100 microM), a non-discriminatory high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channel antagonist, or Ni2+ (50 microM), a blocker of T-type Ca2+ current, reduced [Ca2+]i responses by 77 and 19%, respectively. When Cd2+ was given together with Ni2+, the response was blocked by 92%. Similarly, when Ni2+ was pre-incubated with Cd2+, the response was blocked by approximately 84%. 3. Exposure of vasopressin sensitive neurones to a specific Ca2+ channel blocker, nicardipine (L-type) reduced vasopressin responses by 48% at 1 microM and 62% at 5 microM. Similarly, omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTX, N-type; 500 nM) inhibited the response by 46% with a stronger inhibition (75%) at 800 nM. By contrast, neither omega-agatoxin IVA (omega-Aga IVA; 300 nM), which blocks both P- and Q-type channels, nor synthetic omega-conotoxin MVIIC (omega-MVIIC; 100 or 500 nM), a Q-type blocker, affected vasopressin-induced [Ca2+]i responses. These antagonists, given together (nicardipine 5 microM + omega-CgTX 800 nM + omega-Aga IVA 300 nM), decreased vasopressin-induced [Ca2+]i responses by 76%. 4. In vasopressin-sensitive neurones, the presence of both nicardipine and omega-CgTX, reduced the K(+)-evoked [Ca2+]i increase by 61%. This blockade was increased by a further 21% with omega-Aga IVA, suggesting that N-, L- and P-type channels contribute to the depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i rise. In addition, omega-MVIIC alone reduced the K(+)-evoked [Ca2+]i release by 24%. Also the remaining K+ responses were further reduced by 60% when pre-incubated with L-N- and P-type blockers, suggesting the involvement of Q-type channels. 5. In oxytocin-sensitive neurones, the peak amplitude of the [Ca2+]i response was not affected by Cd2+ alone, by combined Cd2+ and Ni2+, or by the mixture of nicardipine, omega-CgTX and omega-Aga IVA. By contrast, the responses evoked by depolarization with K+ were blocked by Cd2+. Both nicardipine and omega-CgTX blocked 65% of K+ response and an additional block of approximately 18% was obtained with omega-Aga IVA, suggesting the involvement of L-, N- and P-type channels. In combination, these antagonists strongly inhibited (approximately 80% reduction) the K+ responses. Further reduction to 18% was made by the Q-type blocker omega-MVIIC. Pre-incubation with L-, N- and P-type blockers caused an additional block of 71%. 6. Some supraoptic neurones (5-10%) responded to both vasopressin and oxytocin, with only the [Ca2+]i responses induced by vasopressin blocked (> 90% inhibition) by the mixture of Ca2+ channel antagonists. 7. In conclusion, both vasopressin and oxytocin magnocellular SO neurones have been shown to express T-, L-, N-, P-, Q- and R-type Ca2+ channels in their somata. Our results show that the vasopressin-induced [Ca2+]i increase in vasopressin-sensitive neurones is mediated by L-, N- and T-type Ca2+ channels and not by P- and Q-type channels; Ca2+ channels are not involved in oxytocin action on oxytocin-sensitive neurones and L-, N-, P- and Q-type channels control the K(+)-induced [Ca2+]i increase in SO neurones.

Rhythmic activities of hypothalamic magnocellular neurons: autocontrol mechanisms.

Electrophysiological recordings in lactating rats show that oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) neurons exhibit specific patterns of activities in relation to peripheral stimuli: periodic bursting firing for OT neurons during suckling, phasic firing for AVP neurons during hyperosmolarity (systemic injection of hypertonic saline). These activities are autocontrolled by OT and AVP released somato-dentritically within the hypothalamic magnocellular nuclei. In vivo, OT enhances the amplitude and frequency of bursts, an effect accompanied with an increase in basal firing rate. However, the characteristics of firing change as facilitation proceeds: the spike patterns become very irregular with clusters of spikes spaced by long silences; the firing rate is highly variable and clearly oscillates before facilitated bursts. This unstable behaviour dramatically decreases during intense tonic activation which temporarily interrupts bursting, and could therefore be a prerequisite for bursting. In vivo, the effects of AVP depend on the initial firing pattern of AVP neurons: AVP excites weakly active neurons (increasing duration of active periods and decreasing silences), inhibits highly active neurons, and does not affect neurons with intermediate phasic activity. AVP brings the entire population of AVP neurons to discharge with a medium phasic activity characterised by periods of firing and silence lasting 20-40 s, a pattern shown to optimise the release of AVP from the neurohypophysis. Each of the peptides (OT or AVP) induces an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, specifically in the neurons containing either OT or AVP respectively. OT evokes the release of Ca2+ from IP3-sensitive intracellular stores. AVP induces an influx of Ca2+ through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels of T-, L- and N-types. We postulate that the facilitatory autocontrol of OT and AVP neurons could be mediated by Ca2+ known to play a key role in the control of the patterns of phasic neurons.

Clinical usefulness of a bone mineral measurement method on the femoral shaft.

An improved version of a previously described photon absorptiometry method for measuring the bone mineral content of the femoral shaft is presented. The study included 267 healthy persons, who served as control subjects, and 31 osteoporotic and 3 osteomalacic female patients. A monoenergetic source of 241Am was used and a fully automatic apparatus designed. The examinations were recorded with an independent microcomputer and secondarily processed by the nuclear unit central computer. The guidelines of Cameron and West were used to perform various calculations from the initial absorption curve, and the clinical usefulness of these was tested. On the one hand, cortical bone density (CBD) and bone linear attenuation coefficient (BLAC) were found adequately to differentiate between osteoporotics and controls, but we defined a discriminative function (F) which allowed even better separation between the two groups. On the other hand, bone index (BI) was found to be the best parameter to follow an individual patient during therapy. These results underline the usefulness of these calculations for detecting and monitoring the progress of pathological states.