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Horm Metab Res 2007; 39(1): 20-24
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-957342
Original Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Effect of Chronic Nicotine Administration on Bone Mineral Content and Bone Strength in Normal and Castrated Male Rats

P. D. Broulik 1 , J. Rosenkrancová 2 , P. Růžička 2 , R. Sedláček 2 , I. Kurcová 3
  • 1Third Medical Clinic, First Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
  • 2Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechanics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
  • 3Department of Toxicology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Further Information

Publication History

Received 9. 5. 2006

Accepted 17. 10. 2006

Publication Date:
16 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Tobacco, containing nicotine as the principal pharmacologically active chemical, has been identified as being a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis. Thirty-two male Wistar rats of two months of age were castrated or sham operated to evaluate the effects of long-term administration (four months) of nicotine in drinking water (9.0 mg/kg/day). The presence of cotinine in urine confirmed successful delivery of nicotine. The bones were tested mechanically by a three point bending test in a Mini Bionix (MTA) testing system. The bones from castrated rats were characterized by a reduction in bone density as well as ash, calcium and phosphate content. Castration significantly altered mechanical properties of bone (9%) and femoral cortical thickness. When intact rats were treated with a high dose of nicotine, nicotine had negative effect on tibial bone density as well as ash, calcium, phosphate content and significantly altered the mechanical properties of bone (12%) and femoral cortical thickness compared to intact animals. Nicotine itself does not exert any anti-androgenic effect and does not produce changes in the weight of seminal vesicles. Nicotine-induced bone loss is associated with high bone turnover in the male rats as expressed by increased TrACP and B-ALP. When castrated rats were treated with the high dose of nicotine the changes in bone density resulting from castration were not further potentiated. These results document the efficacy of nicotine at high doses to cause bone loss and loss of bone mechanical strength in intact rats. The results of the present study may be interpreted as supporting the hypothesis of nicotine as a risk factor for osteoporosis.

Key words

nicotine - bone mineral density - bone strength - male rats

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Correspondence

P. D. Broulik

3rd Internal Clinic

First Medical School of Charles University

U nemocnice 1

120 00 Prague 2

Czech Republic

Phone: +422249 16 603

Fax: +422249 19 780

Email: pbrou@lfl.cuni.cz