Reduced bone formation markers, and altered trabecular and cortical bone mineral densities of non-paretic femurs observed in rats with ischemic stroke: A randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Immobility and neural damage likely contribute to accelerated bone loss after stroke, and subsequent heightened fracture risk in humans.

Objective: To investigate the skeletal effect of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) stroke in rats and examine its utility as a model of human post-stroke bone loss.

Methods: Twenty 15-week old spontaneously hypertensive male rats were randomized to MCAo or sham surgery controls.