Therapeutic effect of organic gallium on ovariectomized osteopenic rats by decreased serum minerals and increased bone mineral content.
The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of organic gallium on ovariectomized osteopenic rats. Thirty Wistar female rats used were divided into three groups: (1) sham-operation rats (control), (2) ovariectomized (OVX) rats with osteopenia, and (3) OVX rats with osteopenia treated with organic gallium. Treatments were performed over an 8-week period. At sacrifice, the fifth lumbar vertebral body, one tibia, one femur, and the fourth lumbar vertebrae were removed, subjected to micro-CT for determination of trabecular bone structure, and then processed for histomorphometry to assess bone turnover. The femoral neck was used for mechanical compression testing. Treatment with organic gallium increased bone volume in OVX animals. Organic gallium-treated animals had significant increases in trabecular and cortical thickness and bone strength. The plasma total calcium and inorganic phosphate concentrations in OVX rats decreased and bone mineral content in the lumbar vertebrae and femur increased after treatment with organic gallium. These data provide an important proof of concept that organic gallium may represent a powerful approach to treating or reversing severe osteoporosis in humans.
Ma
Zhaoji
Z
Department of Orthopaedics, Sheng Jing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, People's Republic of China.
Fu
Qin
Q
D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005708:Gallium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000628:therapy; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods
D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus; D005708:Gallium; D002118:Calcium