The effect of treadmill running on the development of osteopenia was investigated in adult ovariectomized (OVX) rats compared with sedentary OVX and sedentary sham-operated rats. The rats were 3 months old with a mean weight of 214 g. OVX rats were fed a low calcium diet (0.01%), and the sham rats received the normal diet (1.1% calcium). The training consisted of treadmill running at a speed of 27 m/minute for 1 hour 5 out of 7 days during a period of 8 1/2 weeks. The weight gain was higher in the sedentary OVX (108 g) than in the training OVX (62 g) and sham-operated rats (61 g) (P < 0.001). Comparing the two OVX groups, training had no significant effects on the development of femoral osteopenia as assessed by mechanical testing of the femoral shaft and neck, and by bone mass measurements by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or by ashing. Comparing all three groups bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were reduced by more than 40% in both the OVX groups compared with the sham-operated rats (P < 0.001). Ash weight and calcium content were reduced by approximately 40% in both OVX groups. Femoral volume and length were 10% higher in the sedentary OVX animals compared with the trained (P < 0.05), indicating that the training had had a negative effect on the growth changes induced by ovariectomy. The fracture strength of the femoral shaft was reduced by 26% and 22% in the trained and sedentary OVX rats, respectively compared with the sham-operated group (P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)