Effects of alendronate on structural properties of trabecular bone in dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of alendronate on the structural properties of trabecular bone.

METHODS

Alendronate was administered at a daily p.o. dose of 0.5 mg/kg over a 12-week period in hound dogs (n = 8 for both the control and treated group), and the structural indices of the lumbar vertebral (L1 and L2) trabecular bone were assessed directly from 3-D images.

RESULTS

Treatment with alendronate increased bone volume fraction by 9.5% and 7.7% in L1 and L2 respectively. Trabecular thickness significantly increased after alendronate treatment, whereas trabecular separation remained constant. The degree of anisotropy for the alendronate-treated group was decreased compared with that of the control group. Bone surface to volume ratio declined significantly in the alendronate-treated group, whereas alendronate induced a higher bone surface density.

CONCLUSION

Alendronate increased the structural properties of canine trabecular bone after short-term treatment at a dose of 0.5 mg x k(-1) x day(-1).