The response of osteocytes to a lipid clearing agent in steroid-treated rabbits.

We studied the effect of a lipid clearing agent (clinofibrate) on the osteocytes of rabbits treated with corticosteroids. Thirty-one rabbits were divided into four groups: (A) steroid-treated with a normal diet, (B) steroid-treated and one a diet with added clinofibrate, (C) non-steroid-treated, on a diet with clinofibrate; and (D) non-steroid-treated on a normal diet. All the steroid-treated animals demonstrated hyperlipidaemia and fatty degeneration of the liver. Lipid-containing osteocytes were seen in the femoral heads of these animals. However, those which received clinofibrate (group B) had less severe lipidaemia, and less severe degeneration of the liver. In them, only the osteocytes around the haversian canals exhibited lipid inclusions. Clinofibrate appears to modify lipid metabolism, diminishing the steroid induced accumulation of lipids within osteocytes. This effect may protect against steroid-mediated osteonecrosis.