Evaluation by digital subtraction radiography of induced changes in the bone density of the female rat mandible.
OBJECTIVE
To verify whether changes in bone mass induced by glucocorticoid and bisphosphonate can be detected by digital subtraction radiography of lateral X-rays in female rat mandibles.


METHODS
36 Rattus norvegicus (Wistar) females were randomly allocated to three groups: Group 1, control (n = 12); Group 2, induced osteopaenia (n = 12); and Group 3, induced osteopaenia plus risedronate (n = 12). Group 1 received subcutaneous saline solution (2 ml kg(-1)) injections for 12 weeks. Group 2 received 1 mg kg(-1) methylprednisolone acetate for 12 weeks. Group 3 received the same treatment as Group 2, plus 3 mg kg(-1) risedronate sodium for a further 12 weeks. A radiograph of the left mandible was taken on day 0 and after 12 weeks. A third radiograph was taken in Group 3 after risedronate treatment. Digital subtraction of the radiographs was used to compare the intensity of pixels in the control area and the test area. The animals were killed and the same area assessed by subtraction was histologically evaluated.


RESULTS
ANOVA revealed statistically significant histological differences between the three groups. Tukey's multiple comparisons test showed that Group 2 had the smallest mean proportion of bone trabeculae per field and Group 3 the largest (F = 37.56; P < 0.01). Radiographic subtraction revealed a higher mean pixel intensity in Groups 1 and 3 vs Group 2. In Group 3, glucocorticoid caused a significant loss in radiographic density, and risedronate restored that loss (Friedman's non-parametric test).


CONCLUSIONS
Subtraction radiography was able to detect changes in bone mass induced by glucocorticoid and bisphosphonate.
Mahl
C R W
CR
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Fontanella
V
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D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000068296:Risedronic Acid; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D013997:Time Factors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D000068296:Risedronic Acid; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D008775:Methylprednisolone