Title:Investigating the Preventive Effects of 99Tc-Methylenediphosphonate on a Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis Rabbit Model
Volume: 21
Issue: 26
Author(s): Ying Li, Min Cai, Ruihuan Zhang, Jun Wang, Huijing Zhu, Chunhua Wang, Weiqi Min, Yiheng Chen and Li Yan*
Affiliation:
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, Shandong Province,China
Keywords:
Osteoporosis, 99Tc-methylenediphosphonate (99Tc-MDP), Osteoblast, Osteoclasts, Glucocorticoid, Bone tissue, Osteoporosis.
Abstract:
Background and Objective: Osteoporosis is a worldwide healthcare challenge. Conventional
medications for osteoporosis prevention are not clinically effective or associated with gastrointestinal
tract adverse effects. The present study aimed to comparatively investigate the effects
of technetium-99 conjugated with methylene diphosphonate (99Tc-MDP) and calcium carbonate
and alendronate on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis
rabbit model through evaluating bone alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP), TRAP-5b levels and
histopathological parameters.
Methods: Forty healthy female New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into five groups (each
n=8), including control group (Control Group), osteoporosis model group (GIO Group), osteoporosis
model + 99Tc-MDP group (99Tc-MDP Group), osteoporosis model + alendronate group (Alendronate
Group), and osteoporosis model + calcium carbonate group (calcium carbonate Group). Animals
in each group were treated with corresponding interventions for 14 weeks. The blood samples
were collected at the first and 14th week, and B-ALP and TRAP-5b levels were detected by enzyme-
linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The rabbits were anesthetized at the 14th week, and
pathological cytological observation was performed on both femurs.
Results: The age and weights of rabbits in different groups had no statistically significant differences
(P>0.05). B-ALP levels in serum of all groups except for the Control Group decreased after
treatment, but the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). TRAP-5b levels in serum
of all groups increased after treatment. Specifically, differences in the GIO Group and calcium carbonate
group were statistically significant (P<0.05), while differences in 99Tc-MDP Group and alendronate
Group were not statistically significant (P<0.05). Pathological sections revealed that the
control group presented normal bone tissue morphology. The bone tissue morphology of the 99Tc-
MDP group and alendronate group was similar to control group and GIO group. Moreover, the calcium
carbonate group and GIO group exhibited similar bone tissue morphology.
Conclusion: 99Tc-MDP has a preventive effect on the glucocorticoid-induced osteoporotic rabbit
model. This osteoporosis preventive effect might be attributed to the capacities of 99Tc-MDP in promoting
the osteoblasts generation and inhibiting the generation and reducing the activity of osteoclasts.
