Anti-osteoporotic effects of melatonin and misoprostol in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: An experimental study

Abstract

Aim: Although there are some treatment options for glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis (GIO), new drug alternatives are still needed. In this study, we aimed to determine the protective effects of misoprostol and melatonin in an experimental GIO model.

Methods: The rats were grouped into four, with 10 rats in each group. The 1st group was chosen as the control group, which were not intervened with. Group 2 was the steroid group, group 3 the misoprostol group and group 4, the melatonin group. To the rats in groups 2, 3 and 4, 10 mg/kg subcutaneous methylprednisolone was administered for 28 days. To the rats of the 3rd group, 200 mg/day misoprostol was given per day by a cannula to the stomach. The rats in the 4th group received 5mg/kg intraperitoneal melatonin during this 28-days period. Lumbar vertebrae and femur bone mineral density (BMD) of all rats were measured by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and assessed in pre- and post-treatment periods.

Results: In the steroid group, when the pre- and post-treatment-BMD values of the rats were compared, statistically significant decreases were found in vertebrae, whole femur, femur proximal, femur diaphysis and distal femur bone regions (P=0.011, P=0.005, P=0.007, P=0.005 and P=0.013; respectively). In the misoprostol group, a statistically significant decrease was observed only in the whole femur region (P=0.012) when the pre- and post-treatment BMD values of the rats were compared, while no significant changes were observed in vertebrae, femur proximal, femur diaphysis and distal femur bone regions (P=0.093, P=0.401, P=0.161 and P=0.123; respectively). In the melatonin group, when the pre- and post-treatment BMD values of the rats were compared, a statistically significant decrease was observed only in the vertebrae region (P=0.009), no significant changes were observed in whole femur, femur proximal, femur diaphysis and distal femur bone regions (P=0.386, P=0.445, P=1.000 and P=0.483; respectively). 

Conclusion: Positive effects of misoprostol and melatonin on bone metabolism were determined in this experimental study. Misoprostol and melatonin seem to be potential agents that can be used in the prevention of GIO.

Keywords

• Glucocorticoids,Osteoporosis,Melatonin,Misoprostol

Glukokortikoid kaynaklı osteoporozda melatonin ve misoprostolün anti-osteoporotik etkileri: Deneysel çalışma

Öz

Amaç: Glukokortikoid kaynaklı osteoporoz için kullanılan bazı tedavi seçenekleri olsa da, yeni ilaç alternatiflerine hâlâ ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Çalışmamızda ratlarda glukokortikoid kaynaklı osteoporoz modelinde misoprostol ve melatoninin koruyucu etkilerini belirlemeyi amaçladık.

Yöntemler: Ratlar her grupta 10'ar adet olacak şekilde dört gruba ayrıldı: Grup1 kontrol, grup 2 steroid, grup 3 misoprostol, grup 4 melatonin grubu olarak belirlendi. Grup 2, 3, 4’teki ratlara 28 gün boyunca 10 mg/kg/gün subkutan metilprednizolon uygulandı. Grup 3’teki ratlara ilave olarak 200 mg/gün orogastrik misoprostol, grup 4’teki ratlara ilave olarak 5 mg/kg/intraperitoneal melatonin uygulandı. Tüm ratların lomber vertebra ve femur kemik mineral yoğunluğu DEXA yöntemi ile ölçülerek tedavi öncesi ve sonrası değerler karşılaştırıldı.

Bulgular: Steroid grubunda, çalışma sonrası vertebra, tüm femur, femur proximal, femur diaphysis ve distal femur kemik mineral yoğunluğu değerleri istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede düşük bulundu (sırasıyla; P=0,011, P=0,005, P=0,007, P=0,005 ve P=0,013). Misoprostol grubunda sadece tüm femur bölgesinde çalışma sonrası kemik mineral yoğunluğu düşük (P=0,012) olup vertebra, femur proximal, femur diaphysis ve distal femur bölgeleri osteoporozdan korunmuştu (sırasıyla; P=0,093, P=0,401, P=0,161 ve P=0,123). Melatonin grubunda sadece vertebra bölgesinde çalışma sonrası kemik mineral yoğunluğu düşük (P=0,009) olup tüm femur, femur proximal, femur diaphysis ve distal femur bölgelerinde osteoporozdan korunmuştu (sırasıyla; P=0,386, P=0,445, P=1,000 ve P=0,483).

Sonuç: Bu deneysel çalışmada misoprostol ve melatoninin kemik metabolizması üzerindeki olumlu etkileri belirlenmiştir. Misoprostol ve melatonin GIO’nun önlenmesinde kullanılabilecek potansiyel ajanlar gibi görünmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Glucocorticoids,Osteoporoz,Melatonin,Misoprostol

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