title: Effects of Alendronate on Bone Remodeling Around Osseointegrated Implants in Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of alendronate on bone remodeling around osseointegrated implants in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The maxillary first molars were extracted from 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats, and replaced with customized implants. They were then administered twice-weekly subcutaneous injections of either alendronate (alendronate group) or saline (control group) after allowing a 4-week period for osseointegration. They were killed at 4, 8, or 12 weeks after the commencement of the injection protocol, and the implant sites were evaluated comprehensively by microcomputed tomographic, histologic, and biochemical assessments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was hard to find statistically significant differences from microcomputed tomographic analyses. In addition, inconsistent variations were derived from histologic data. However, biochemical data showed statistically significant differences; serum osteocalcin level was statistically significantly lower in the alendronate group than in the control group at 8 weeks after the commencement of injections. In addition, serum osteocalcin level in the alendronate group was statistically significantly lower at 8 and 12 weeks after the initial injection point than at preinjection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest alendronate might affect bone remodeling activity around osseointegrated implants negatively, and serum osteocalcin could serve as an accessory tool to evaluate this effect.
authors: *Graduate Student, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. †Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. ‡Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. §Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyung Chul
authors: KC
authors: Oh
authors: Woojin
authors: W
authors: Hwang
authors: Young Bum
authors: YB
authors: Park
authors: Jae Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Hong Seok
authors: HS
authors: Moon
authors: Jee Hwan
authors: JH
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D019386:Alendronate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D019386:Alendronate