用氢化可的松3．6mg／kg，给大鼠灌胃，每周6次，1个月后改为每周2次，制成类固醇性骨质疏松动物模型，研究黄芪抗骨质疏松的作用。黄芪水提液5g／kg灌胃，每周6次，持续60d。不脱钙骨制片，用图象定量法，对大鼠胫骨近端骨小梁骨代谢的静、动态指标进行测算。结果：a）激素组骨吸收增加261％，骨形成减少63％，骨小梁面积减少23％。b）黄艺加激素组与a）比，骨吸收减69％，骨形成率增加100％，骨小梁面积增加27％，提示黄芪能防治类固醇性骨质疏松。

3-month-old male SD rats were given hydrocortison(ig 3.6 mg/kg 6 times per week for 30 d,and there after 2 times per week for anther 30 d)so as to give an animal model of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.The rats were treated with an aqueous extract of Astragalus membranaceus,ig 5 g/kg 6 times per week. After 60 days,all rats were sacrificed,and their proximal tibae were processed without decalcification for histomor-phometric analysis. In comparison with control rats,the bone resorption was enhanced(+261%),bone formation decreased(-63%) , and trabecular bone area was significantly reduced(-23%)in rats received hydrocortison. Trabecular bone formation of rats treated with A. membranaceus was significantly increased(+100%),bone resorption was reduced(-69%) , and trabecular bone area was increased (+27%)as compared with rats received hydrocortison. The experimental results showed that A. membranaceus can prevent gluco-corticoid-induced osteoprosis.