The present invention discloses agents and methods for inducing osteoblastic cellular differentiation, as well as the use of such agents and methods to treat patients to maintain bone mass, enhance bone formation and/or bone repair. Exemplary agents include oxysterols, alone or in combination with particular oxysterols, or other agents, such as bone morphogenic proteins, known to assist in bone formation. The invention further includes medicaments including oxysterols for the treatment of bone disorders and implants to facilitate bone repair.
