Glucocorticoid-induced osteopenia in rats: histomorphometrical and microarchitectural characterization and calcitonin effect.
A glucocorticoid-induced osteopenia (GC-OP) model was developed in Wistar male rats to use for in vivo screening of anti-osteoporotic candidates. 1) Two week treatment with a wide dose range of methylprednisolone acetate (0.01 to 50 mg/kg, s.c., 3 d a week) and histomorphometry of the right tibia combined with histological study (n = 3) allowed us to select 0.1 mg/kg as a proper dose to produce a measurable degree of osteopenia. 2) Eight week treatment with the selected dosing regimen (n = 6) of the steroid and histomorphometry including strut analysis measured the development of a characteristic osteopenia which can be described briefly as "uncut but thinning" of trabecular bone structure, and which was prevented by salmon calcitonin (0.33-10 U/kg, s.c., 5 times/week) in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate the usability of this osteopenic model not only for screening of anti-osteoporotics but also for study of the mechanism leading to GC-OP.
Nakamuta
H
H
Department of Pharmacology, Setsunan University, Osaka, Japan.
Nitta
T
T
Hoshino
T
T
Koida
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; C028815:salmon calcitonin; D002116:Calcitonin; D008775:Methylprednisolone