Long-term minodronic acid (ONO-5920/YM529) treatment suppresses increased bone turnover, plus prevents reduction in bone mass and bone strength in ovariectomized rats with established osteopenia

The present study examined the effect of the highly potent nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, minodronic acid (ONO-5920/YM529), on bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover, bone histomorphometry and bone strength in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Female F344/DuCrj rats, aged 14 weeks, were OVX or sham operated. After 3 months, the OVX rats showed an increase in bone turnover, and a decrease in bone mass and bone strength. Minodronic acid was administered orally once a day for 12 months at doses of 0, 0.006, 0.03 and 0.15 mg/kg from 3 months after OVX. Minodronic acid dose-dependently inhibited the decrease in BMD of lumbar vertebrae and femur. In the femur, treatment with 0.15 mg/kg minodronic acid increased the BMD of distal and mid sites to sham levels. Minodronic acid dose-dependently suppressed OVX-induced increase in urinary deoxypyridinoline, a bone resorption marker, after a month of treatment and these effects were maintained for 12 months of treatment. Minodronic acid also decreased serum osteocalcin, a bone formation marker. In bone histomorphometric analysis after 12 months of treatment, OVX rats showed an increase in bone resorption (Oc.S/BS and N.Oc/BS) and bone formation (MS/BS and BFR/BV) at lumbar vertebral bodies. Minodronic acid suppressed the OVX-induced increase in bone turnover at tissue level. Trabecular bone volume, trabecular thickness and trabecular number of lumbar vertebral bodies were decreased after OVX. Minodronic acid increased these structural indices, indicating that it prevented the deterioration in trabecular architecture. In a mechanical test at 12 months of treatment, ultimate load of lumbar vertebral bodies and mid femur in the OVX-control group was decreased compared to the sham group. Minodronic acid prevented the reduction in bone strength at both sites. In particular, in the mid femur, treatment with 0.03 and 0.15 mg/kg minodronic acid increased bone strength to sham levels or greater. In conclusion, minodronic acid suppressed increased bone turnover, plus prevented the decrease in BMD, deterioration of bone microarchitecture and reduction in bone strength in OVX rats with established osteopenia. These results suggest that minodronic acid may be clinically useful for treatment of osteoporosis.