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The Role of Osteogenic Effect and Vascular Function in Bone Health in Hypertensive Rats: A Study of Anti-hypertensive

Subhashis Pal1, Shivani Sharma1,2, Konica Porwal1

  • 1Division of Endocrinology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Lucknow, 226031, India.

Calcified Tissue International
|December 15, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Pentoxifylline (PTX) improves bone mass and vascular function in hypertensive rats, suggesting it may be a promising treatment for osteoporosis in hypertensive patients. This study highlights the importance of vascular health for bone density.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology
  • Bone Metabolism
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Vascular dysfunction is linked to osteopenia in hypertensive patients, with reduced bone blood supply causing tissue damage.
  • Current antihypertensive medications have inconclusive effects on bone mass, indicating blood pressure reduction alone is insufficient.
  • Pentoxifylline (PTX), a hemorheological agent, enhances blood flow and angiogenesis, and possesses osteogenic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that improved vascular function is crucial for increasing bone mass in hypertension.
  • To evaluate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on vascular function and bone health in hypertensive models.
  • To explore PTX as a potential therapeutic option for osteoporosis in hypertensive individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of antihypertensive drugs for in vitro osteogenic effects, selecting timolol and hydralazine.
  • Administration of PTX, timolol, and hydralazine to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and ovariectomized (OVX) SHR models.
  • Assessment of bone mass, strength, mineralization, and vascular parameters, including bone vasculature and angiogenesis.

Main Results:

  • Timolol and hydralazine did not improve vascular function or bone mass in SHRs.
  • PTX significantly improved both vascular function and bone mass, restoring them to normotensive control levels in female SHRs.
  • PTX normalized reduced bone vasculature in the femur of adult SHRs and restored impaired vascular and angiogenesis parameters in OVX SHR animals.

Conclusions:

  • Improved vascular function is critical for enhancing bone mass in hypertension, independent of blood pressure reduction.
  • Pentoxifylline (PTX) demonstrates potential as a treatment for osteoporosis in hypertensive patients, especially postmenopausal women.
  • PTX offers a promising therapeutic strategy by improving bone health through enhanced vascular function.

Keywords:
Bone formationBone vasculatureOsteogenicPentoxifyllineSpontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

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