Effect of lithium carbonate on subchondral bone in sexually mature Wistar rats.

LEWICKI M; PAEZ H; MANDALUNIS PM

EXPERIMENTAL AND TOXICOLOGIC PATHOLOGY

ELSEVIER GMBH

Año: 2006 vol. 58 p. 197 - 201

0940-2993

<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span lang="en" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Clinical and experimental studies have shown that lithium carbonate causes a number of clinical manifestations such as hyperparahyroidism, hypothyroidism, renal toxicity, and diabetes insipidus. The effect of this drug on the bone biology of experimental animals has not been studied to date. Therefore, the aim of the present experimental work was to study the effect of lithium on bone tissue in healthy sexually mature Wistar rats.   <p></p></span></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span lang="en" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Ten female Wistar rats, aged three and a half to four and a half months, 210-220 g body weight, were assigned to one of the following groups: untreated control group and experimental group receiving 45 mg/kg body weight/day of lithium carbonate in their drinking water during three months. Prior to euthanasia, blood samples were obtained in order to determine plasma phosphorus, calcium alkaline phosphatase, and lithium. After sacrifice, the tibiae were resected, processed and embedded in paraffin. The following histomorphometric parameters were determined on digital photographs of the histologic sections: BV/TV (%): bone volume, Tb.Th (um): trabecular thickness, Tb.N (/mm2): trabecular number, Tb.Sp (um): trabecular separation, </span><span lang="en" style="COLOR: black">Ob.S/BS </span><span lang="en" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">(%): Osteoblast surface, ES/BS (%): Total erosive surface, Lc.S (%): Lining cells surface and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>GPC. Th (ìm): Thickness of growth plate cartilage.   <p></p></span></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span lang="en" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The results showed that administration of lithium carbonate cause </span><span lang="en" style="COLOR: black">bone loss in </span><span lang="en" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">healthy sexually mature Wistar rats. Although the mechanism involved in bone toxicity remains to be clarified, the results obtained in the present study suggest that patients under long-term lithium therapy should be thoroughly evaluated, particularly those presenting other risk factors of osteopenia, such as menopause, low calcium intake, alcohol consumption, glucocorticoid therapy.   <p></p></span></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>