The anabolic action of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) on rat trabecular bone is suppressed by (3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene)-1-bisphosphonate (AHPrBP)

We have previously found that high doses of 17 beta-estradiol (E2), similar to those seen in late pregnancy, stimulate bone formation in adult rats. In this communication we tested the effects of a combination of E2 and (3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene)-1,1-bisphosphonate (AHPrBP) on bone formation and bone volume in rat bone. E2 (4 mg/kg/day subcutaneously for 17 days) stimulated the bone formation rate to 6 times that of control rats. This was reduced by a single administration of AHPrBP (0.3 mg/kg subcutaneously) to 3 times control levels, and by similar daily injections of AHPrBP to levels not significantly different from those of untreated rats. Suppression of bone formation was effected predominantly through a reduction in the percentage of double-labelled surfaces, consistent with reduced osteoblast recruitment. We found only relatively minor effects of AHPrBP on the mineral apposition rate, suggesting that AHPrBP affected osteoblast function less than osteoblast recruitment. Suppression of histodynamic parameters of bone formation by AHPrBP was associated with suppression of the increase in bone volume otherwise induced by E2. The suppression by AHPrBP of the effect of E2 on bone formation contrasted with its lack of effect on other target tissues for E2, since AHPrBP did not affect the E2-induced changes in longitudinal bone growth or uterine weight. These results suggest that AHPrBP inhibits the anabolic effect of estrogen on rat trabecular bone.