title: Histomorphometrical analysis of the effects of the bisphosphonate alendronate on bone loss caused by experimental periodontitis in monkeys.
abstract: This study tested the efficacy of alendronate, a bisphosphate, in reducing alveolar bone loss caused by experimental periodontitis in cynomolgus monkeys. Periodontitis was initiated in adult monkeys by ligating mandibular molar teeth at the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and subsequently inoculating the ligature with Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis. Contralateral, homologous non-ligated teeth served as controls. Animals received, intravenously, either saline (placebo) or alendronate at 0.05 or 0.25 mg/kg every 2 weeks for 16 weeks. After the animals were sacrificed, coronal sections through mandibular molars were subjected to histomorphometrical analysis. No overt side-effects were observed in any of the animals participating in this study. In placebo-treated animals, ligation and inoculation resulted in significant bone loss both at the CEJ and at the furcation. Alendronate at 0.05 mg/kg significantly reduced bone loss associated with the experimental periodontitis at both sites. In contrast, the dose of 0.25 mg/kg was ineffective in attenuating alveolar bone loss in the furcation area and only slightly effective in preventing it at the CEJ area. The results of the histomorphometric analysis correlate closely with those of the radiographic analysis of the same experiment. These data indicate that alendronate could reduce the loss of alveolar support associated with periodontitis and suggest that bisphosphonates, by virtue of their significant inhibitory action on osteoclasts, may become a treatment modality in the battle against alveolar bone destruction during periodontal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Tel-Aviv University School of Dental Medicine, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinreb
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Quartuccio
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Seedor
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Aufdemorte
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunsvold
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kornman
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rodan
mesh_terms: D019386:Alendronate; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D019386:Alendronate