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This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free All Versions of this Article: 104/3/729    most recent 00632.2007v1 Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lloyd, S. A.J. Articles by Bateman, T. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lloyd, S. A.J. Articles by Bateman, T. A.

Development of a low-dose anti-resorptive drug regimen reveals synergistic suppression of bone formation when coupled with disuse

¹Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and ²Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina

Submitted 12 June 2007 ; accepted in final form 2 January 2008

Safe and effective countermeasures to spaceflight-induced osteoporosis are required to mitigate the potential for mission-critical fractures and ensure long-term bone health in astronauts. Two anti-resorptive drugs, the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (ZOL) and the anti-receptor activator of NF-B ligand protein osteoprotegerin (OPG), were investigated to find the minimum, comparable doses that yield a maximal increase in bone quality, while minimizing deleterious effects on turnover and mineralization. Through a series of five trials in normally loaded female mice (n = 56/trial), analysis of trabecular volume fraction and connectivity using microcomputed tomography, along with biomechanical testing, quantitative histomorphometry, and compositional analysis, was used to select 45 µg/kg ZOL and 500 µg/kg OPG as doses that satisfy these criteria. These doses were then examined for their ability to mitigate bone loss following short-term unloading through hindlimb suspension (HLS). Seventy-two mice were prophylactically administered ZOL, OPG, or PBS and assigned to loaded control or 2-wk HLS groups (n = 12 for each of 6 groups). Both anti-resorptives were able to preserve trabecular microarchitecture and femoral elastic and maximum force in HLS mice (+30–40% ZOL/OPG vs. PBS). In HLS mice, anti-resorptive dosing reduced resorption perimeter at the femoral endocortical surface by 30% vs. PBS. In loaded control mice, anti-resorptives produced no change in bone formation rate; however, reductions in bone formation rate brought about by HLS were exacerbated by anti-resorptive treatment, suggesting synergistic inhibition of osteoblasts during disuse. Refined anti-resorptive dosing will tend to target countermeasures to the period of disuse, resulting in faster recovery and less adverse effects for astronauts.

spaceflight; osteoprotegerin; zoledronic acid; osteoporosis; bone loss; microcomputed tomography