Effects of strontium ranelate, raloxifene and misoprostol on bone mineral density in ovariectomized rats

To investigate the effects of strontium ranelate, raloxifene and misoprostol on bone mineral density (BMD) in ovariectomized rats to contribute to the individualization of the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Sixty sexually mature female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 g were used. The 60 rats were divided into six groups of 10 rats each: SR, MISO, RAL, SHAM, DW and OVX. All except the SHAM rats were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy. Three days after surgery, rats were administered strontium ranelate (Protelos, 2 g, Servier, Istanbul), 1800 mg/kg/day; misoprostol (Cytotec, 200 mcg, Ali Raif, Istanbul), 200 mcg/kg/day; raloxifene (Evista, 60 mg, Lily and Company, Istanbul), 3 mg/kg/day and 1 cc of distilled water by gavage for 8 weeks. Bone mineral density measurements were then performed.

The strontium ranelate (SR) group had significantly higher vertebral BMD than all other groups. Femoral density in the SR group was also significantly higher than in other groups and there was no difference between femoral density in the strontium ranelate and sham groups.

Strontium ranelate, raloxifene and misoprostol can prevent bone loss in the vertebrae, whereas strontium ranelate can also prevent bone loss in the femur of ovariectomized rats. Strontium ranelate increases greater than raloxifene and misoprostol BMD in the vertebrae.

Strontium ranelate may increase both vertebral and femur BMD in ovariectomized rats while raloxifene and misoprostol may only increase lumbar spine BMD.