Abstract
BackgroundBisphosphonates (BPs) are forceful inhibitors of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Long-term BP use is associated with multiple rare but severe adverse effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effects of BPs in the structure of femoral nerve. Specimens from the femoral nerve of ten female 12-month old Wistar rats were used as control group and ten female 12-month old Wistar rats to which Alendronate (Fosamax, Merck) was administered per os for 13 weeks, were used as research group. Samples were observed under a Transmission Electron Microscope. G ratio measurements and statistical analysis with SPSS program were also performed.ResultsThe control group showed no major changes of the nerve’s histologic image, with the exception of some spots of thickness of the nerve myelin sheath. The research group showed major morphological changes which varied from partial disorganization or thickening of the myelin to severe myelin thickening and axon strangulation. A statistically significant difference of the G ratio between the two groups was observed.ConclusionsThe reported values (found in literature) for the morphologic measurements of the femoral nerve in Wistar rats are not complying with the ones we found in our study. There was a significant reduction of all three variables (the mean axon like diameter, the myelin thickness, G ratio) studied in the femoral nerve of the research group in contrast to control group. Our study demonstrates a possible correlation between alendronate administration and femoral nerve’s function, nevertheless due to the small specimen further research is needed.
Highlights
Bisphosphonates (BPs) are forceful inhibitors of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption
The theoretical measurements produced by Chomiak and Hu algorithm fall into small range with the ones expected by the observed G ratio in the literature (G ratio observed = 0.76–0.81) in the Central Nervous System (CNS), there is a noticeable difference between his measurements and the G ratio in peripheral nerves
The values reported in literature for the morphologic measurements of the femoral nerve in Wistar rats are not complying with the ones we found in our study
Summary
Bisphosphonates (BPs) are forceful inhibitors of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Their role as experimental agents was upgraded to becoming the treatment of choice for a variety of bone disorders, mostly osteoporosis, Paget’s disease and hypercalcaemia of malignancy [1] Their high affinity for Bisphosphonates are chemically stable derivatives of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a naturally occurring compound in which two phosphate groups are linked by esterification [2]. It is clear that suppressing osteoclast bone resorption is their principal biologic effect, with the potency of this effect dependent on the side chains [1].
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