[The effect of alendronate on arterial calcification in rat model].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of alendronate on artery calcification in rats.


METHODS
(1) 4-week SD male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: alendronate group (AL, n = 6), calcification group (CA, n = 6) and normal group (N, n = 6). In AL and CA group, artery calcification of rat was established by subcutaneous injection of vitamin D3 (300,000 U x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 3 days) and Warfarin (15 mg x 100 g(-1) x 12 h(-1) for 4 days); In AL group, at 4 days before establishment of artery calcification, alendronate (1 mg x kg(-1) x 24 h(-1)) was administered with subcutaneous injection and continued to be given to the end of the study. Abdominal aortae were collected for paraffin section and stained with von Kossa staining to observe the area of calcification. (2) Rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were cultured in vitro with tissue explant. All cells were divided into 5 groups: normal group, calcification group (control group), and alendronate 10(-9), 10(-7) and 10(-5) mol/L group. Before inducing calcification, alendronate 10(-9), 10(-7) and 10(-5) mol/L group were individually pre-treated with final concentrations of 10(-9), 10(-7) and 10(-5) mol/L alendronate for 24 hours. Beta-glycerophosphate were then added in the calcification group and in all the alendronate groups to induce VSMC calcification. All cells were cultured for 14 days. Cell crawling slice was applied to Alizarin red S staining to observe VSMC calcification. Colorimetric method was applied to measure the contents of Ca2+, cell proteins, and ALP activity. The ratio of contents of Ca2+ and cell proteins was cell calcium deposits. Cell proliferation was measured with tetrazolium salt (MTT) method.


RESULTS
(1) With von Kossa staining the black deeply stained structure was found to be decreased in AL group. (2) As compared with the control group, in all the alendronate groups, showed that the number of calcium nodules [(6.8 +/- 2.7, 6.2 +/- 4.2, 5.3 +/- 2.4) % vs (7.4 +/- 3.8)%], and cell calcium depositions [(5.2 +/- 1.2, 4.8 +/- 1.7, 3.5 +/- 1.8)% vs (5.6 +/- 1.6)%], cell ALP activity and cell proliferation decreased significantly and dose-dependently.


CONCLUSIONS
Alendronate can inhibit the artery calcification in rats.
Li
Huan
H
Department of Cardiology, Xijing Hospital, the 4th Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China. lihuan816@hotmail.com
Jia
Guo-liang
GL
Wang
Hai-chang
HC
Zhang
Rong-qing
RQ
Tao
Hui-ren
HR
Lü
Rong
R
Hu
Tao
T
Wang
Jun
J
D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D019386:Alendronate