Mandibular-related bone metabolism in orchiectomized rats treated with sex hormones

•Estradiol and testosterone therapies play a role in mandibular bone metabolism.•Testosterone replacement therapy might protect the alveolar bone height.•Estradiol may influence serum levels of ALP in orchiectomized rats.•Sex hormones deficiency exhibits a decrease in mandibular bone mineral density. This study aimed to compare the impact of testosterone and estrogen replacement therapy on mandibular bone density and bone-related markers. Forty male adult rats were randomly allocated to 4 experimental groups (n = 10/group): Sham (Control); Orchiectomy; Orchiectomy plus testosterone replacement; and orchiectomy plus estradiol replacement. Twenty-four days after orchiectomy, the hemi-mandibles were collected and processed for analysis of microhardness in cortical and trabecular bone, radiographic bone density and histomorphometric evaluation. Serum was collected for the analysis of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and magnesium. The orchiectomy group had the lowest mandibular bone density (p