Therapeutic Effect of Organic Gallium
on Ovariectomized Osteopenic Rats by Decreased Serum
Minerals and Increased Bone Mineral Content
Zhaoji Ma
&
Qin Fu
Received: 20 May 2009 / Accepted: 24 June 2009 /
Published online: 4 July 2009
#
Humana Press Inc. 2009
Abstract The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of organic gallium on
ovariectomized osteopenic rats. Thirty Wistar female rats used were divided into three
groups: (1) sham-operation rats (control), (2) ovariectomized (OVX) rats with osteopenia,
and (3) OVX rats with osteopenia treated with organic gallium. Treatments were performed
over an 8-week period. At sacrifice, the fifth lumbar vertebral body, one tibia, one femur,
and the fourth lumbar vertebrae were removed, subjected to micro-CT for determination of
trabecular bone structure, and then processed for histomorphometry to assess bone turnover.
The femoral neck was used for mechanical compression testing. Treatment with organic
gallium increased bone volume in OVX animals. Organic gallium-treated animals had
significant increases in trabecular and cortical thickness and bone strength. The plasma total
calcium and inorganic phosphate concentrations in OVX rats decreased and bone mineral
content in the lumbar vertebrae and femur increased after treatment with organic gallium.
These data provide an important proof of concept that organic gallium may represent a
powerful approach to treating or reversing severe osteoporosis in humans.
Keywords Organic gallium
.
Osteoporosis
.
OVX
.
BV/TV
.
Bone mineral content
.
Plasma calcium
.
Plasma phosphate
Introduction
Osteoporosis is a generalized metabolic disease characterized by progressive loss of bone
mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and
increasing the risk of fracture, mainly in the spine and femora [1]. The use of anti-resorptive
agents reduces the risk of fractures in patients with osteoporosis [2]. Elemental gallium is a
potent inhibitor of bone resorption that acts to maintain or restore bone mass. Gallium has
certain physicochemical properties that are relevant to bone physiology. Gallium readily
Biol Trace Elem Res (2010) 133:342–349
DOI 10.1007/s12011-009-8445-3
Z. Ma
:
Q. Fu (*)
Department of Orthopaedics, Sheng Jing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004,
People’s Republic of China
e-mail: fuqcmuh@126.com