Gallium inhibits bone resorption by a direct effect on osteoclasts

Gallium nitrate has been used clinically to treat cancer-related hypercalcemia. It has been suggested that gallium may reduce calcium release from bone by inhibiting bone resorption, but the mechanism(s) involved remain to be elucidated. Therefore, we have examined the effect of gallium on bone resorption in vitro using osteoclasts isolated from neonatal rat long bones cultured on slices of cortical bone. Gallium nitrate (0.01-100 micrograms/ml) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of bone resorption. Morphological studies showed that even (100 micrograms/ml) gallium nitrate induced no light microscopical change in osteoclast morphology and did not affect their survival on bone slices. Pretreatment of bone slices with gallium nitrate (100 micrograms/ml for 18 h), followed by extensive washing also inhibited subsequent osteoclastic bone resorption. These results suggest that gallium can be adsorbed onto the calcified surface of bone and inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption.