Systemic treatment with strontium ranelate promotes tibial fracture healing in ovariectomized rats.
Systemic treatment with strontium ranelate (SR) was performed on ovariectomized (OVX) rats with fractured tibiae. Callus quality was assessed by radiographic, histological, micro-computerized tomography, and biomechanical examinations at 4 and 8 weeks after fracture. Results revealed that systemic applied SR promoted osteoporotic fracture healing.


BACKGROUND
Several studies have demonstrated the dual effect of SR on osteoporotic and undisturbed bone. However, reports of their effect on osteoporotic fracture healing are limited. This study was designed to investigate the effects of SR on bone regeneration in OVX rats with fractured tibiae.


METHODS
Three months after being OVX, female Sprague-Dawley rats accepted bilateral osteotomy on proximal tibiae fixed with intramedullary wires and were divided into two groups: OVX and OVX + SR (625 mg/kg/day). Callus quality was evaluated at 4 and 8 weeks postfracture.


RESULTS
Compared with OVX group, SR treatment significantly increased bone formation, BMD, biomechanical strength, and improved microstructural properties of the callus. The ultimate load was increased by 211.0% and 61.4% (p<0.01), and the total bone volume of callus by 74.8% and 79.3% (p<0.01) at 4 and 8 weeks postfracture, respectively. SR treatment also promoted healing progress with increased osteogenesis at 4 weeks; more mature and tightly arranged woven or lamellar bone at 8 weeks across the fracture gap in histological analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that systemic treatment with strontium ranelate could promote tibial fracture healing in OVX rats.
Li
Y F
YF
The State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, NO. 14, Section 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chendgu, 610041, China.
Luo
E
E
Feng
G
G
Zhu
S S
SS
Li
J H
JH
Hu
J
J
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013977:Tibia / Q000503:physiopathology; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013876:Thiophenes; C081587:strontium ranelate