Comparison of the inhibitory effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on bone prostaglandin synthesis and resorption.

The biopotency of various nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) in inhibiting prostaglandin (PG) mediated bone resorption was evaluated in a neonatal mouse calvaria organ culture system. Thrombin stimulated formation of the osteolytic PG, PGE2 and PGI2 (measured as 6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and the concomitant stimulation of calcium release from cultured bone were inhibited by diclofenac much greater than indomethacin much greater than flurbiprofen greater than piroxicam greater than acemetacin much greater than acetylsalicylic acid. The relative potencies of the NSAID on PG synthesis in bone differs from that observed previously in other model systems.