title: Role of Pitavastatin in Prevention of Osteopenic Changes in Ovariectomized Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of pitavastatin, a third generation statin, on development of osteopenia in ovariectomized rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, from January to July 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into ovariectomized (OVX), Sham OVX and OVX given pitavastatin 0.4 mg/kg/day, 0.8 mg/kg/day, for 8 weeks. Bone density measurements using CT scan and Archimedes&rsquo; principle were made on femora and tibiae. Blood samples were analyzed for acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ovariectomy-induced osteopenic changes were indicated by significant decrease in bone densities and Hounsfield (HU) index of distal femoral and proximal tibial metaphyses and elevation of ACP and ALP levels. 0.4 mg/kg pitavastatin did not significantly alter the evaluated parameters. 0.8 mg/kg produced a restoration of HU of lower femur and femoral density comparable to Sham. HU of upper tibia and tibial density following 0.8 mg/kg was significantly higher than OVX but was not approximate to Sham. ALP and ACP with 0.8 mg/kg were comparable to Sham.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supra-therapeutic dose of pitavastatin was effective in preventing estrogen deficiency-induced decrease in bone density of ovariectomized rates, over an 8-week period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi.
authors.forename: Farida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qadir
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi.
authors.forename: Syed Mahboob
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Liaquat National Medical College, Stadium Road, Karachi.
authors.forename: Tabassum
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zehra
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Dow International Medical College, Karachi.
authors.forename: Ahmar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehmood
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Sindh Medical College, Karachi.
authors.forename: Abeer Qamar
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Siddiqi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011804:Quinolines; C108475:pitavastatin