title: [Additive effect of zoledronic acid and alfacalcidol in the treatment of disuse osteoporosis in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Disuse by bed rest, limb immobilization or space flight causes rapid bone loss. We conducted the present study to investigate the therapeutic effects of zoledronic acid (ZOL), alone and in combination with alfacalcidol (ALF) in a rat model of disuse osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, 3-month-old male Wistar rats had their right hind-limb immobilized (RHLI) for 10 weeks to induce osteopenia, then were divided into four groups: 1- RHLI positive control; 2- RHLI plus ZOL (50 μg/kg, i.v. single dose); 3- RHLI plus ALF (0.5 μg/kg, oral gauge daily); 4- RHLI plus ALF (0.5 μg/kg, oral gauge daily) plus ZOL (50 μg/kg, i.v. single dose) for another 10 weeks. One group of non-immobilized rats was used as negative control. At the end of the treatment, the femurs were removed and tested for bone porosity, bone mechanical properties, and bone dry and ash weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combination therapy with ZOL plus ALF was more effective in decreasing bone porosity than each drug administered as monotherapy in RHLI rats. With respect to improvement in the mechanical strength of the femoral mid-shaft, the combination treatment of ZOL plus ALF was more effective than each drug administered as a monotherapy. Moreover, combination therapy using ZOL plus ALF was more effective in improving dry bone and ash weight, than single-drug therapy using ZOL or ALF in RHLI rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that combination therapy with ZOL plus ALF represents a potentially useful therapeutic option for the treatment of disuse osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, Índia; Departamento de Engenharia Aeroespacial, Laboratório de Materiais e Sistemas de Engenharia Multiescala Integrada, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Índia. Electronic address: deepak_kumarkhajuria@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Deepak Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Khajuria
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, Índia.
authors.forename: Choudhary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Disha
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, Índia.
authors.forename: Rema
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Razdan
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Engenharia Aeroespacial, Laboratório de Materiais e Sistemas de Engenharia Multiescala Integrada, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Índia.
authors.forename: D Roy
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mahapatra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004357:Drug Synergism; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid; C008088:alfacalcidol
keywords: Alfacalcidol; Disuse osteoporosis; Estudo com ratos; Osteoporose por desuso; Rat model; Zoledronic acid; Ácido zoledrônico