title: The effect of low molecular weight chitosan on bone resorption in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: We studied the effect of low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) on the formation of osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (OCLs) in the co-culture of mouse osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells in the presence of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1alpha,25(OH)2D3]. LMWC at 440 microg/ml inhibited the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive OCLs induced by 1alpha,25(OH)2D3. We prepared OCLs in the co-culture of osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells. The effect of LMWC on pit formation by OCLs was examined using dentin slices, and LMWC inhibited pit formation at 440 microg/ml. Oral administration of the LMWC to ovariectomized rats prevented a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebra without affecting the body and uterus weights. These results suggested that LMWC prevented a decrease in BMD in vivo by inhibiting osteoclastic bone resorption.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tezuka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003804:Dentin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002686:Chitin; D002117:Calcitriol