Hydrochlorothiazide inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 12, 2026

A Simple Pit Assay Protocol to Visualize and Quantify Osteoclastic Resorption In Vitro
Published on: June 16, 2022
1Ciba-Geigy Ltd., Research Department, Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Long-term thiazide diuretic use is associated with higher bone mineral density and reduced hip fracture rates, which are attributed to increased serum calcium levels and decreased parathyroid activity that lead to decreased bone resorption. The present study shows that 1-100 microM hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) dose dependently inhibits bone resorption by isolated rat osteoclasts in the bone slice assay with an IC50 of approximately 20 microM. At these concentrations, HCTZ did not affect osteoclast survival on bone slices and had no effect on the proliferation of UMR-106 rat osteoblasts, indicating that the compound is not cytotoxic. However, such concentrations of HCTZ are unlikely to be achieved in man where therapeutic doses are usually 12.5-100 mg/day. That the in vitro effect of HCTZ on bone resorption may be due to inhibition of osteoclast carbonic anhydrase is discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Antihypertensive Drugs: Thiazide-Class Diuretics
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling
Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis
Bone Remodeling
Antihypertensive Drugs: Potassium-Sparing Diuretics