The influence of ovariectomy, simvastatin and sodium alendronate on alveolar bone in rats

Ana Lia Anbinder,Ivan Balducci,Rosilene Fernandes Da Rocha,Fernanda De Almeida Prado,Marcela De Almeida Prado

doi:10.1590/s1806-83242007000300010

Ana Lia Anbinder, Ivan Balducci + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1806-83242007000300010

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Abstract

Bisphosphonates are currently used in the treatment of many diseases involving increased bone resorption such as osteoporosis. Statins have been widely used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and recent studies have shown that these drugs are also capable of stimulating bone formation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of an estrogen deficient state and the effects of simvastatin and sodium alendronate therapies on alveolar bone in female rats. Fifty-four rats were either ovariectomized (OVX) or sham operated. A month later, the animals began to receive a daily dose of simvastatin (SIN - 25 mg/kg), sodium alendronate (ALN - 2 mg/kg) or water (control) orally. Thirty-five days after the beginning of the treatment, the rats were sacrificed and their left hemimandibles were removed and radiographed using digital X-ray equipment. The alveolar radiographic density under the first molar was determined with gray-level scaling and the values were submitted to analysis of variance (alpha = 5%). Ovariectomized rats gained more weight (mean +/- standard deviation: 20.06 +/- 6.68%) than did the sham operated animals (12.13 +/- 5.63%). Alveolar radiographic density values, expressed as gray levels, were lowest in the OVX-water group (183.49 +/- 6.47), and differed significantly from those observed for the groups receiving alendronate (sham-ALN: 193.85 +/- 3.81; OVX-ALN: 196.06 +/- 5.11) and from those of the sham-water group (193.66 +/- 4.36). Other comparisons between groups did not show significant differences. It was concluded that the ovariectomy reduced alveolar bone density and that alendronate was efficient for the treatment of this condition.

Highlights

Osteoporosis is defined worldwide as a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone density and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, which leads to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture.[6]
Statins have been widely used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and recent studies have shown that these drugs are capable of stimulating bone formation
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of an estrogen deficient state and the effects of simvastatin and sodium alendronate therapies on alveolar bone in female rats

Summary

Introduction

Osteoporosis is defined worldwide as a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone density and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, which leads to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture.[6]. Bisphosphonates are drugs that inhibit bone resorption and that have been successfully used in the systemic treatment of osteoporosis, selectively acting on bone tissue and interfering with the action of osteoclasts.[18] As inhibitors of osteoclasts, bisphosphonates have been used with success in studies related to the inhibition of periodontal disease induced in animals without osteoporosis or other systemic diseases.[16]. Some recent studies have reported an action of these substances on bone formation through the stimulation of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2).[13] In view of these findings, it has been suggested that statins, if selectively directed at bone, may have beneficial effects on the treatment of osteoporosis and fractures.[13]

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