The Influence of Statins on Bone Tissue in Ovariectomized Rats

Abstract

Seferos N, G Rallis, Tesseromatis C, Kotsiou A

Objectives: Osteoporosis is a silent, progressive, systemic skeletal disease characterized by impaired bone architecture with decreased bone mass density, affecting mainly women. Statins, inhibitors of HMG-CoA-reductase, seem to interfere with bone formation exerting anabolic and anti-resorptive effect. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of simvastatin on size parameters and bone density of mandible and femur, in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis.

Methods: 50 Wistar female rats were randomized in five groups (n=10). Groups 1, 2,3 were ovariectomized, 4 and 5 serve as controls. Groups 2, 3 and 5 were treated with simvastatin (0.5mg/kg/daily per os). Size parameters of the isolated femur, mandible and uterus, BMD via dual energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and serum interleukin-13 (IL-13) were estimated.

Results: DEXA results showed significant decrease of BMD in ovariectomized group / controls while statins treatment decreased the severity of BMD lose. The serum IL-13, as osteogenesis index, seems to be positively influenced by statins treatment.

Conclusions: Statins treatment seems to restore the decreased femur and mandible parameters and uterus weight in experimental menopause following ovariectomy.

PDF