January - March 2006, Volume 2, Issue 1

Jutea S, Orbai P, Ghervan C, Duncea I, Gozariu L

Glucocorticoids increase inflamation-mediated osteopenia in rat

Acta Endo (Buc) 2006, 2 (1): 11-18
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2006.11

The aim of the study was to assess if the administration of glucocorticoids, before the onset of inflammation-mediated osteopenia (IMO) induced by magnesium silicate in rats, influences IMO progress and if it has effects when administered simultaneously. IMO in the rat is a method that leads to a fast bone mass decrease. It consists of injections s.c. in 8 points of the dorsal region, of 8 ? 400 mg of talcum (magnesium silicate) sterile suspended in 0.5 ml saline solution. The selected rats were of both sexes, with a body weight of 150 g, and were included in five study groups. All the animals received food daily, while the rats from only three groups had a daily dose of 0.25 mg/150g Prednisone in different periods of the experiment: before and/or at the same time with IMO. All the rats were measured and their weight was recorded before and after the treatment. Calcium and magnesium values were measured from dry bone after sacrifice. Bone weight, volume and density, serum calcium and magnesium were also determined. Bone calcium and magnesium contents were low in all the study groups versus the control group. Also, bone calcium and magnesium amounts were significantly reduced in the groups with IMO as compared to the animals that were only treated with Prednisone without IMO. Results demonstrated that glucocorticoids administration before and at the same time with IMO increase bone calcium and magnesium deficiency.

Keywords: glucocorticoids, osteopenia, rat, bone calcium and magnesium content

Correspondence: Dr. Simona Jutea, ?Iuliu Ha?ieganu? University of Medicine and Pharmacy, N .Titulescu Str. no. 8, bl.P3, ap.26, Cluj-Napoca 400420, Romania,E-mail: simonajutea@yahoo.com