Inhibitory effect of phenothiazine derivatives on bone in vivo and osteoblastic cells in vitro.

We tested the inhibitory effects of phenothiazine derivatives on bone in vivo and osteoblastic cells in vitro. Chlorpromazine (CPZ) and trifluoperazine (TFPZ) dose-dependently decreased alkaline phosphatase activity in calvariae of rats: half-maximal inhibitory effects of CPZ and TFPZ were at 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg, respectively. These effects were more specific for calvaria and ileum than for liver and duodenum. CPZ inhibited the proliferation of osteoblastic clone MC3T3-E1 cells to a greater extent than that of liver epithelial clone RLC-18(4) cells in vitro. CPZ, TFPZ and perphenazine (PNZ) also affected rather specifically alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen synthesis and were not cytotoxic. These in vivo and in vitro findings suggest inhibitory effects on osteoblastic cell function(s). However, promethazine (PMZ) had little effect in vivo and in vitro. In addition, increases in serum calcium and phosphate induced by CPZ indicate its possible involvement in bone resorption.