title: Glucocorticoids reduce alveolar and trabecular bone in mice.
abstract: Glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is the main cause of secondary osteoporosis. There are some controversies about the relationships between alveolar bone loss and bone loss at the appendicular and axial skeleton.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess, in parallel, the effects of GCs on alveolar bone and on the tibia in a mice model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five-month-old male Swiss-Webster mice were randomized into two groups. Pellets releasing 5 mg/kg/day of prednisolone or control pellets were subcutaneously implanted for 28 days. After euthanasia, the right tibia and the right hemimandible of each mouse were analyzed by histomorphometry and microcomputed tomography. Alveolar bone consists of a thin slab between the incisor and the molar roots connected with the alveolar processes. A 2D-frontal section was done through the pulp chamber of the first molar and was used to measure the thickness of the alveolar bone slab. A 2D-sagittal section was done through the pulp chamber of the three molars and was used to measure bone volume in the alveolar processes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At day 28, thickness and bone volume of alveolar bone were significantly decreased in the GC group (P<0.05). At the tibia, GCs decreased bone formation with a reduced mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate and a significant decrease in BV/TV and Tb.Th (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the amount of alveolar bone is very low in the mouse, this study shows that GCs can induce an alveolar bone loss in long-term treated animals.
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U922, LHEA, IRIS-IBM, institut de biologie en santé, CHU d'Angers, 4, rue Larrey, 49933 Angers cedex, France. bebouvard@chu-angers.fr
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bouvard
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gallois
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Audran
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chappard
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000818:Animals; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids