title: Protective effect of zoledronic acid on corticosteroid-induced chondrocyte apoptosis in rat articular cartilage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the apoptotic effects of systemic corticosteroid application on the articular cartilage chondrocytes in vivo and to investigate the potential effects of zoledronic acid on corticosteroid-induced apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. In the control group, intramuscular isotonic salt solution was injected weekly. In the second group, a dose of 10 mg/kg intramuscular corticosteroid (methylprednisolone) injection was applied weekly for 8 weeks. In the third group, a dose of 10 mg/kg intramuscular corticosteroid (methylprednisolone) injection was applied weekly for 8 weeks and 0.1 mg/kg zoledronic acid was injected subcutaneously on days 0, 21 and 42. Femoral head specimens from each group were obtained at the end of the treatment and the TUNEL method was applied to detect apoptotic chondrocytes. Comparison analyses were performed using the ANOVA method and Tukey's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference between the corticosteroid group and two other groups (control group: p=0.005; corticosteroid + zoledronic acid group: p=0.047). Zoledronic acid treatment significantly decreased the number of corticosteroid-induced apoptotic chondrocytes in the joint cartilage (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zoledronic acid may have the potential to prevent joint cartilage deterioration due to the corticosteroid-induced apoptosis of the chondrocytes.
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Alpay Merter
authors: AM
authors: Ozenci
authors: Tevfik
authors: T
authors: Aslan
authors: Zeliha
authors: Z
authors: Sahin
authors: Ozlem
authors: O
authors: Ozbey
authors: Nuray
authors: N
authors: Acar
authors: Ismail
authors: I
authors: Ustünel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid