In ovariectomized (Ovx) mice, collagenolytic cysteine protease (CCP) activity in calvaria significantly increased 7 days after ovariectomy and was about 50% of that observed in sham-operated (Sham) mice 3 weeks later. In Ovx mice, subcutaneously (s.c.) administered estradiol-17beta (E2) (10 microg/kg) for 2 weeks led to a decrease in CCP activity in calvaria to the level observed in Sham mice. In Ovx mice, though the amount of cathepsin L increased more than that of cathepsin K, cathepsin K and cathepsin L content increased by 200-400% compared with the Sham mice; cathepsin K was detected in larger amounts than cathepsin L in calvaria from both Sham and Ovx mice. The amounts of cathepsin K and cathepsin L in Ovx mice were reduced to the values seen with Sham mice after administration (s.c.) of E2 (10 microg/kg) for 2 weeks. In mouse calvarial organ culture, the increase of CCP activity and release of hydroxyproline, an indicator of degradation of type-I collagen, in the presence of 1alpha,25-(OH)(2)D(3), parathyroid hormone, interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-6, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha was suppressed by E2 (10(-9)-10(-7) M). In all cases, secretion of both cathepsin K and cathepsin L were suppressed by E2. In osteoclasts, expression of cathepsin K and cathepsin L was suppressed by E2 at the mRNA level. Cathepsin B was detected faintly or not at all. These results suggest that synthesis of cathepsin K and cathepsin L was negatively regulated by E2 at the mRNA level. In Ovx mice, deficiency of E2 resulted in an augmentation of cathepsin K and cathepsin L synthesis, and the cathepsins might share roles in bone resorption in vivo.