Effect of bisphosphonates on the increase in bone resorption induced by a low calcium diet

This study investigates whether bisphosphonate-treated rats are still able to adapt to low calcium supply through an increase in bone resorption assessed by measuring the urinary excretion of [3H]-tetracycline from chronically prelabeled rats. First it was shown that in this model, parathyroid hormone was responsible for the increase in bone resorption on the low calcium diet. In the second part, animals were treated with the three bisphosphonates-clodronate, alendronate, and ibandronate-given in two doses. Animals receiving a dose that already strongly inhibits bone resorption were still able to respond to a low calcium diet by increasing bone resorption, showing the potency of the latter as a stimulator of bone resorption. Higher doses were, however, able to blunt this response. As soon as the treatment was discontinued, this increase in bone resorption resumed with clodronate but not with alendronate or ibandronate.