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Influence of prednisolone-induced osteoporosis on bone mass and bone quality of the mandible in rats

Division of Radiology, Department of Maxillofacial Diagnostic Science, Kanagawa Dental College, Yokosuka, Japan

*Correspondence to: Yusuke Kozai, Department of Radiology, Kanagawa Dental College, 82 Inaoka, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 238-8580, Japan. E-mail: kozai{at}kdcnet.ac.jp

Received 6 December 2007; revised 11 January 2008; accepted 27 January 2008

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of steroid treatment on the mandible.

Methods: We divided 24 male Fisher rats, aged 10 weeks, into 2 groups: a control group (n = 11) and a prednisolone (Pred) treatment group (n = 13). The dose for the Pred group was 40 mg kg^–1 and was administered orally three times per week for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, we measured bone mass, bone strength and trabecular structure of the mandible and femur.

Results: Pred treatment decreased cortical bone mineral content (BMC), cortical thickness, stress/strain index and tissue volume of the mandible. However, there were no marked changes in trabecular structure parameters. A strong correlation was seen between mandibular and femoral cortical BMC (r = 0.71).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that steroid treatment decreases the cortical BMC, bone area and bone strength of the mandible.

Keywords: osteoporosis; mandible; corticosteroids; diagnosis; rats