Topical administration of simvastatin recovers alveolar bone loss in rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Simvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, has been reported to show anabolic effects on bone metabolism. We examined the effects of simvastatin in vitro using cultured rat calvaria cells and in vivo using periodontitis-induced rats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Alkaline phosphatase activity and bone nodule formation were measured in cultured rat calvaria cells. Nylon ligature was placed around the maxillary molars of Fischer male rats for 20 d to induce alveolar bone resorption. After ligature removal, simvastatin was topically injected into the buccal gingivae for 70 d and then microcomputed tomography and histological examinations were performed.

RESULTS:

Simvastatin maintained high alkaline phosphatase activity and increased bone nodule formation in rat calvaria cells in a dose-dependent manner, showing that simvastatin increased and maintained a high level of osteoblastic function. Microcomputed tomography images revealed that treatment with simvastatin recovered the ligature-induced alveolar bone resorption, showing a 46% reversal of bone height. Histological examination clarified that low-mineralized alveolar bone was formed in simvastatin-treated rats.

CONCLUSION:

These findings demonstrate that simvastatin has the potential to stimulate osteoblastic function and that topical administration of simvastatin may be effective for the recovery of alveolar bone loss in rats.

• Authors: H Seto, H Ohba, K Tokunaga, H Hama, M Horibe, T Nagata
• Journal: Journal of periodontal research (J Periodontal Res) Vol. 43 Issue 3 Pg. 261-7 (Jun 2008) ISSN: 1600-0765 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18447852 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Simvastatin
• Alkaline Phosphatase

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Alkaline Phosphatase (biosynthesis)
• Alveolar Bone Loss (drug therapy)
• Animals
• Bone Regeneration (drug effects)
• Cells, Cultured
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Osteoblasts (drug effects)
• Periodontitis (drug therapy)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred F344
• Simvastatin (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Skull
• Tomography