Simvastatin treatment partially prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss while increasing cortical bone formation

Statins are commonly prescribed drugs that inhibit hepatic cholesterol synthesis and thereby reduce serum cholesterol concentrations. Some of the statins are thought to possess bone anabolic properties. Effects of statin on tibia, femur, and vertebral cortical and cancellous bone were studied in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Sixty Wistar female rats, 4 months old, were allocated into four groups: baseline control, sham + placebo group, OVX + placebo, OVX + simvastatin. Simvastatin, 20 mg/kg, or placebo was given twice daily by a gastric tube for 3 months. The rats were labeled with tetracycline at day 11 and calcein at day 4 before sacrifice. Concerning cortical bone, the tibial diaphysis bending strength was increased by 8% and the periosteal bone formation rate (BFR) at the mid-diaphysis increased by twofold in the OVX + simvastatin group compared with the OVX + placebo group, in harmony with increased serum osteocalcin concentrations. Simvastatin did not affect the endocortical bone formation. Concerning cancellous bone, the cancellous bone volumes in the proximal tibia and vertebral body were reduced in both OVX groups, but the reduction was less in the OVX + simvastatin group compared with the OVX + placebo group. This reduction in cancellous bone loss is in agreement with the 36% decreased activity of serum tartrate-resistant-acid-phosphatase 5b (TRAP-5b), indicating decreased osteoclast activity in the OVX + simvastatin group compared with the OVX + placebo group. In conclusion, simvastatin induces a moderate increase in cortical bone formation at the periosteal bone surface. The new cortical bone exhibits a normal lamellar structure, and simvastatin seems to respect the regional pattern of bone formation, bone resorption, and drift; for example, no periosteal bone formation is observed in the vertebral canal. Furthermore, simvastatin reduces the loss of cancellous bone induced by ovariectomy. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.