The effects of disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP)on bone and serum chemistry in rabbits.

Abstract

The effects of disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) on bone and serum chemistry were investigated in adult rabbits. EHDP was administered by subcutaneous injection at doses of 0.25, 2.5 and 10 mg/kg body weight/day for of 28 days. Blood samples were obtained weekly from each rabbit and serum levels of total calcium, ionized calcium, inorganic phosphate and alkaline phosphatase were determined. At the end of the treatment period all rabbits were sacrificed and the tibiae removed for chemical analysis and histological evaluation. The effect of EHDP administration on serum chemistry was both dose- and time-related. The highest of the three doses, 10 mg/kg/day, resulted in a time-related decrease in total serum calcium. This dose also caused a rapid but transient reduction in serum ionized calcium. The effect of EHDP on serum inorganic phosphate was biphasic. Administration of 2.5 mg/kg/day resulted in a time-related elevation in this parameter, whereas the 10 mg/kg/day dose resulted in a time-related hypophosphatemic response. There were no significant drug-related changes in tibial fat-free dry weight, ash weight, total calcium or total phosphorus values. However, administration of 2.5 and 10 mg/kg/day EHDP resulted in increased osteoid tissue as measured histologically. These results are compared with data from other EHDP studies, and discussed in relation to the maturity and growth-state of the experimental animals.