title: Vitamin D metabolites prevent vertebral osteopenia in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: The present study investigated the prophylactic effects of vitamin D metabolites and vitamin D metabolite combinations on static and dynamic, tetracycline-based, histomorphometric parameters in the axial skeleton of ovariectomized rats. Forty-three Fischer-344 rats (10 weeks old, 130 g each body weight, BW) were either bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) or sham-operated (SHAM). The rats were allocated into the following groups: SHAM; OVX; OVX + 7.5 ng 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]/rat/day; OVX + 15 ng 1 alpha,24R,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,24,25-(OH)3D3]/rat/day; OVX + 75 ng 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24,25(OH)2D3]/rat/day; OVX + 7.5 ng 1,25(OH)2D3/rat/day + 15 ng 1,24,25(OH)3D3/rat/day; OVX + 7.5 ng 1,25(OH)2D3/rat/day + 75 ng 24,25(OH)2D3/rat/day. The vitamin D metabolites were fed orally starting 4 weeks after surgery. Urine and blood samples were collected 12 and 16 weeks postovariectomy, respectively. Sixteen weeks after surgery, all rats were sacrificed, and the first lumbar vertebrae were processed undecalcified for histomorphometric analysis. Ovariectomy induced a highly significant reduction (P less than 0.001) of cancellous bone mass in the secondary spongiosa of the lumbar vertebral body. The bone loss in OVX rats was accompanied by a distinct elevation of all histomorphometric parameters of bone formation and resorption. 1,25(OH)2D3 and both vitamin D metabolite combinations significantly raised serum calcium levels and prevented the bone loss by inhibiting the increased bone resorption in OVX rats. In the applied dosage, 1,24,25(OH)3D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3 alone were ineffective in preserving the cancellous bone of the lumbar vertebra in OVX rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Veterinary Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Erben
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weiser
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinowatz
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Rambeck
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zucker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013752:Tetracycline
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; C013721:1,24,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3; D013752:Tetracycline; D002117:Calcitriol; C008088:alfacalcidol