Protective Effect of Amlodipine on Rat Bone Tissue after Orchidectomy

Aim:Our study aimed to investigate the effect of amlodipine on bone metabolism in orchidectomized rats. Methods: Eight-week-old rats were divided into three groups. The sham-operated control group (SHAM) and the control group after orchidectomy (ORX) received the standard laboratory diet (SLD). The experimental group after orchidectomy (ORX+AML) received SLD enriched with amlodipine for 12 weeks. Bone marker concentrations in serum of PINP, OPG and IGF-1, and the levels of CTX-I, BAP and BMP-2 in a bone homogenate were measured using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The femurs were used for biomechanical testing. Results: Bone markers (CTX-I, BAP, BMP-2) in ORX were higher versus SHAM. In ORX+AML there was a decrease in PINP, CTX-I, BAP, BMP-2 and OPG versus ORX. IGF-1 was decreased in ORX versus SHAM. In ORX+AML it was increased versus ORX. In ORX, a decrease was demonstrated versus SHAM in BMD of the whole body, in the lumbar vertebrae and in both femurs. In ORX+AML there was an increase in BMD of the whole body versus ORX. Three-point bending test revealed a decrease in maximal load values in ORX versus SHAM. After amlodipine administration there was an increase in the left femur versus ORX. Conclusions: Amlodipine is capable of mitigating the negative effects of orchidectomy and could be a good prevention of osteoporosis. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel