Aluminum-induced osteogenesis in osteopenic rats with normal renal function

Previous studies have shown a different effect of aluminum (AI) on bone met abolism in animals with chronic renal failure and conversely, positive oste ogenic effects in animals with normal renal function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aluminum on bone metabolism in osteopenic ra ts. We studied male Wistar rats with severe osteopenia induced by adding NH 4Cl (2%) to the drinking water over a 6-month period. The rats were divided into two groups and followed for 4 months. The Aluminum group (G1) receive d AlC13 intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg/5 days/week) (n = 8); the Control group (G2) did not receive any treatment after stopping the administration of NH 4Cl (n = 5). In all animals we measured biochemical markers (serum Ca, P, C r, Al, osteocalcin, hydroxyproline) as well as bone mineral density and bon e histomorphometry (BV/TV, CTh, ObS/BS, OTh, and NOc/TV). Bone aluminum con tent, measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, was 101.6 +/- 13 mu g/g i n the Al overloaded group and 1.31 +/- 0.14 in controls. Bone mineral densi ty, evaluated by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the proximal extremity of the tibia was significantly higher in G1 (0.292 +/- 0.01 g/cm(2) versus 0.267 +/- 0.02 g/cm(2)). No significant differences were found between the biochemical markers. In the histomorphometric parameters we observed signif icant differences in G1 compared with G2: an increase in BV/TV (18.59 +/- 5 .6 versus 7.69 +/- 3.08%) and in CTh (0.52 +/- 0.06 versus 0.36 +/- 0.07 mm ) with a moderate increment of the osteoid thickness (14.05 +/- 4.72 versus 5.25 +/- 0.9 mu m) (P < 0.05). Changes in others parameters and the relati onship between biochemical parameters of bone remodeling, Al, and histology were analyzed. These findings indicate that in rats with normal renal func tion, Al is able to induce bone formation even when osteopenia is present.