Long-term effects of alendronate on fracture healing and bone remodeling of femoral shaft in ovariectomized rats

Aim:

To investigate the long-term effects of alendronate (Aln), a widely used oral bisphosphonate, on fracture healing and bone remodeling in ovariectomized rats.

Methods:

Adult female SD rats underwent ovariectomy, and then bilateral femoral osteotomy at 12 weeks post-ovariectomy. From d 2 post-ovariectomy, the animals were divided into 3 groups, and treated with Aln (3 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹, po) for 28 weeks (Aln/Aln), Aln for 12 weeks and saline for 16 weeks (Aln/Saline) or saline for 28 weeks (Saline/Saline). At 6 and 16 weeks post-fracture, the fracture calluses were examined with X-ray radiography, and biomechanical testing and histological analysis were performed. The calluses were labeled with tetracycline and calcein to evaluate the mineral apposition rate (MAR).

Results:

The fracture line was less distinct in the 2 Aln-treated groups at 6 weeks post-fracture, and disappeared in all the 3 groups at 16 weeks post-fracture. The size of the callus and radiographic density of the femora in the Aln/Aln group were the highest among the 3 groups at 6 and 16 weeks post-fracture. Similar results were observed in the ultimate load at failure and energy absorption. However, the treatment with Aln delayed endochondral ossification of the callus, and significantly increased the total sagittal-sectional area, percentage callus area and callus thickness, and decreased the MAR at 6 and 16 weeks post-fracture.

Conclusion:

In the ovariectomized rat model, Aln is beneficial for the mechanical properties of the callus, but delays callus remodeling by suppressing the remodeling of woven bone into lamellar bone.