Oestrogen receptors and linear bone growth.

In this review we summarize available data regarding linear growth in oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha)- and oestrogen receptor beta (ERbeta)-deficient mice. We discuss these findings in relation to known oestrogenic effects in humans and the possibility of applying this knowledge for the therapeutic modulation of longitudinal bone growth employing selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). We conclude that SERMs potentially could offer new possibilities to modulate bone growth by specifically targeting different oestrogen receptors within the growth plate.