VICENTE NETO, Pedro; PECCARO, Camila Aparecida    BALDUCCI, Eleny Zanella. Histomorphometric analysis of bone repair in tibias of castrated rats submitted to the effects of sodium alendronate. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) []. 2010, 58, 4, pp. 491-496. ISSN 1981-8637.

OBJECTIVE: This study used histomorphometric analysis to investigate the effect of sodium alendronate, used for the treatment of osteoporosis, on the repair of surgically-induced bone defects in the tibia of castrated rats. METHODS: The castrated animals were given subcutaneous injections of sodium alendronate (0.7mg/Kg) diluted in saline once a week; the control animals were given the same dose of saline. At 16, 30 and 44 days after the first injection of sodium alendronate, the animals were sacrificed and the right tibias were removed and processed for histomorphometric analysis. The volumetric bone mineral density was estimated by a reticular grid (25 points) attached to a light microscope. The number of points on the bone tissue was counted in the histological sections, totaling 100 points/animal. RESULTS: The results revealed that sodium alendronate stimulated bone formation in castrated rats in all occasions, mainly at 16 and 30 days. CONCLUSION: Sodium alendronate affects mineral homeostasis, promoting bone repair.

: Alendronate; Bone regeneration; Rats.