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Biomedical subjects

R C Mühlbauer

Publications and source records attributed to R C Mühlbauer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Common herbs, essential oils, and monoterpenes potently modulate bone metabolism.

During our survey of herbs looking for activity on bone metabolism, we found that the dried leaves of sage strongly inhibit bone resorption. Therefore, we investigated several common herbs rich in essential oils (sage, rosemary, and thyme) and essential oils extracted from these herbs and other plants (oils of sage, rosemary, juniper, pine, dwarf pine, turpentine, and eucalyptus) as well as their monoterpene components (thujone, eucalyptol, camphor, borneol, thymol, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, bornylacetate as well as menthol) and found that they inhibit bone resorption when added to the food of rats. Pine oil, used as a representative essential oil, protects an osteoporosis model, the aged ovariectomized rat, from bone loss. The monoterpenes borneol, thymol, and camphor are directly inhibitory in the osteoclast resorption pit assay. Nonpolar monoterpenes may require metabolism to be active in vitro, for example, cis-verbenol, a metabolite of alpha-pinene occurring in human urine, inhibits osteoclast activity in contrast to the parent compound. Within 30 min borneol inhibits the formation of actin rings, a characteristic of resorbing osteoclasts indicating cell polarization. Both the in vitro and the in vivo effects of borneol are reversible. Our study demonstrates for the first time that essential oils and monoterpenes are efficient inhibitors of bone resorption in the rat.

Animals↗

Some vegetables (commonly consumed by humans) efficiently modulate bone metabolism.

We have hypothesized that some vegetables which are part of the regular human diet may contain modulators of bone metabolism. To mimic a typical Western diet with large proportions of refined components, rats were pair-fed a semi-purified diet to which, in the treated animals, the dried material under investigation was added. Effects are expressed as % of untreated control. Bone parameters in rats were assessed in the proximal tibia by pQCT. Bone resorption (BR) was assessed by the urinary excretion of [3H]-tetracycline from prelabeled rats. Daily administration of 1 g of onion during 4 weeks increased total bone mineral content by 17.4% (p<0.05), trabecular bone mineral density by 13.6% (p<0.05). One g of onion/day administered to male rats blunted BR by 23-/+5% (p<0.05). Daily administration of onion to ovariectomized rats inhibited BR in a dose-dependent manner. At the highest dose (1.5 g of onion) BR was inhibited by 26-/+4% (p<0.01) as compared to 24-/+3% (p<0.001) for estradiol (27microg/kg/day). An additional 13 vegetables displayed significant effects on BR at the dose of 1g/day. Interestingly, 1g/day of soy did not inhibit BR in this model. Also, skimmed milk, meat and egg (all 1 g/day) were ineffective. Thus, common vegetables consumed by humans potently modulate bone metabolism in the rat. This opens the possibility to develop the basis for a low-cost, safe and effective nutritional approach to osteoporosis.

Journal Article↗

Food fractionation is a powerful tool to increase bone mass in growing rats and to decrease bone loss in aged rats: modulation of the effect by dietary phosphate.

The incidence of osteoporotic fractures has been associated with low bone mass. To reduce this incidence, it is therefore important to try to prevent the development of low bone mass by either increasing bone mass built up during adolescence and/or preventing bone loss in later life. It has been shown that food fractionation, a procedure that prevents the diurnal rhythm of bone resorption, increases bone mass in growing rats fed a high calcium (Ca), high phosphate (Pi) diet. In this paper, data are presented that show that providing growing rats with the same daily amount of a high Ca, low Pi diet (a Pi content similar to that of a human diet) in portions every 6 h instead of one meal increases total bone mineral content, trabecular bone mineral density, and cortical thickness, and markedly reduces the decrease in these parameters in aged rats. The effect is smaller when a high Ca, high Pi diet is fractionated. This could be the consequence of the transient postprandial increase in parathyroid hormone (PTH) following one large meal of a high Ca, high Pi diet, since the effect is similar to that reported after PTH injections which are anabolic for bone. Thus, a high dietary Pi must be considered as a confounding factor when treatments affecting bone mass are investigated in rats. The present data show that feeding habits have a profound effect on bone mass in the rat, independent of age. Whether bone mass in humans is also under the control of dietary habits is not yet clear. If so, frequent small meals of appropriate composition may help to prevent osteoporosis.

Aging↗

Morphometric analysis of gastrectomy-evoked osteopenia.

Gastrectomy leads to osteopenia in the rat. The present study describes the effects of gastrectomy on bone morphology. Rats were subjected to gastrectomy or sham operation. Four weeks after the operation the rats were killed and both tibiae were removed. Bone morphology of the left tibia was analyzed with quantitative computer tomography, the right tibia with histomorphometry. Bone length, bone mineral content, as well as indices of bone resorption and formation were measured in the metaphysis and the diaphysis. Gastrectomy had no effect on longitudinal bone growth but it led to a low bone mineral content at both sites. Bone resorption was increased by gastrectomy, as shown by an increase in the medullary cavity area in the diaphysis. Gastrectomy also reduced bone formation, as shown by a decreased periosteal circumference and a decrease in the mean periosteal bone apposition in the diaphysis. In conclusion, gastrectomy-evoked osteopenia reflects impaired formation and increased resorption of bone.

Animals↗

Frequency of food intake and natural dietary components are potent modulators of bone resorption and bone mass in rats.

Prevention of low bone mass is important to reduce the incidence of osteoporotic fractures. In this report evidence is provided that feeding habits per se, that is, increased frequency of food intake as well as a diet containing soy and other raw components, decrease bone resorption and increase bone mass in growing rats. Interim results after 6 weeks indicate that food fractionation and natural dietary components are both capable of inhibiting trabecular bone loss in aged rats. These interim results indicate that the effect of both dietary interventions are additive and together are capable of nearly completely blunting the age-dependent loss of trabecular bone mineral density. These dietary manipulations are, however, only partially effective in inhibiting the strongly increased loss of trabecular bone mineral density induced by estrogen deprivation. The fact that the natural dietary components are not more effective in ovariectomized rats as compared to intact females confirms our contention that these components may not operate by mimicking the effect of estradiol. Whether bone mass in humans is also under the control of dietary habits is not known. If so, an increased frequency of meals of appropriate composition may be used to prevent osteoporosis.

Animals↗

Effect of bisphosphonates on the increase in bone resorption induced by a low calcium diet.

This study investigates whether bisphosphonate-treated rats are still able to adapt to low calcium supply through an increase in bone resorption assessed by measuring the urinary excretion of [3H]-tetracycline from chronically prelabeled rats. First it was shown that in this model, parathyroid hormone was responsible for the increase in bone resorption on the low calcium diet. In the second part, animals were treated with the three bisphosphonates-clodronate, alendronate, and ibandronate-given in two doses. Animals receiving a dose that already strongly inhibits bone resorption were still able to respond to a low calcium diet by increasing bone resorption, showing the potency of the latter as a stimulator of bone resorption. Higher doses were, however, able to blunt this response. As soon as the treatment was discontinued, this increase in bone resorption resumed with clodronate but not with alendronate or ibandronate.

Alendronate↗

The food-induced stimulation of bone resorption in the rat, assessed by the urinary [3H]-tetracycline excretion, is mediated by parathyroid hormone.

Using the urinary excretion of [3H]-tetracycline from prelabeled rats to monitor bone resorption, we have previously shown that food intake is associated with a rapid and large increase in bone resorption. This increase is blunted when the daily intake is fractionated into 4 portions instead of being given at once. Food fractionation also leads to a large increase in bone mass. In order to establish whether the thyroparathyroid gland is involved in this effect, thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) rats were studied. The food-induced increase in bone resorption was absent in TPTX rats. Therefore, the pattern of parathyroid hormone (PTH) was investigated during the development of the food-induced bone resorption, and under food fractionation. Rats were trained to eat their daily high Ca food in less than two hours. Thereafter they were given food portions of 5 or 20 grams, respectively. PTH in serum was measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after food intake. In rats given the large food portions, a conspicuous increase of PTH was found. In contrast, serum PTH of rats fed the small food portion did only change to an insignificant extent. This study in rats shows that the ingestion of a large meal induces a transient increase of PTH. The present results can therefore explain the formerly observed acute increase in bone resorption following food intake and its blunting by food fractionation. It is not known, whether such a mechanism occurs also in humans. If so, these results would provide the rational basis to decrease bone resorption by food fractionation.

Animals↗

The diurnal rhythm of bone resorption in the rat. Effect of feeding habits and pharmacological inhibitors.

Prevention of low bone mass is important to reducing the incidence of osteoporotic fractures. This paper shows that, in rats, bone mass can be increased by feeding habits per se. Using six-hourly urinary excretion of [3H]tetracycline from prelabeled rats to monitor bone resorption, we previously found a peak of bone resorption following food administration. We now demonstrate that dividing the solid and liquid intake into portions blunts this peak and leads to a decrease in 24-h bone resorption to the level observed in thyroparathyroidectomized animals. Calcium balance increases and, when such feeding schedules are imposed for 30 d, bone mass increases. Dividing the intake is not effective in thyroparathyroidectomized animals, indicating the importance of PTH and/or calcitonin. Administration of calcitonin inhibits practically only the peak of bone resorption, suggesting that it is osteoclast mediated. In contrast, treatment with a bisphosphonate reduces basal bone resorption without a specific effect on the peak, indicating a fundamentally different mechanism of action. This is also supported by the finding that their combined effects are additive. Whether bone mass in humans is also under the control of dietary habits is not known. If so, an increased meal frequency may be used to prevent osteoporosis.

Animals↗

Evaluation of urinary pyridinium crosslink excretion as a marker of bone resorption in the rat.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of the urinary excretion of the pyridinium crosslinks, pyridinoline (Pyr) and deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr), as markers of bone resorption in the rat. The excretion of the crosslinks was compared with that of urinary [3H]tetracycline ([3H]TC) excretion from chronically [3H]TC-prelabeled animals, a technique established to monitor bone resorption in the rat. Bone resorption was modulated by Ca restriction, infusion of PTH, thyroparathyroidectomy, and administration of different bisphosphonates. Furthermore, the urinary crosslinks were assessed in three different osteopetrotic mutations in the rat. We found a delayed response of Pyr and D-Pyr excretion to acute changes in bone resorption compared with [3H]TC excretion. This delay was 1 day after Ca restriction and longer after other treatments, such as PTH administration or bisphosphonate treatment, with which it was more than 3 weeks. In contrast, chronic states with stimulation or inhibition of bone resorption showed similar changes in excretion of the urinary crosslinks and [3H]TC, except after PTH administration. The excretion of the crosslinks was greatly reduced in osteopetrotic rats (op/op, tl/tl, and ia/ia) and increased to normal levels in tl/tl rats after stimulation of bone resorption by M-CSF administration. These results suggest that, in rats, urinary excretion of the pyridinium crosslinks reflects bone resorption in chronic but not always in acute conditions. The cause of this discrepancy is still unclear.

Amino Acids↗

BM 21.0955, a potent new bisphosphonate to inhibit bone resorption.

A total of 300 new bisphosphonates were screened for their effect on bone resorption in the rat. Among these, 1-hydroxy-3-(methylpentylamino)propylidenebisphosphonate (BM 21.0955) was selected for detailed investigation. It inhibited arotinoid-stimulated bone resorption as assessed by calcemia in thyroparathyroidectomized rats at a SC dose as low as 0.001 mg P (0.016 mumol) per kg body weight per day. The compound was thus about 2, 10, 50, and 500 times more potent than risedronate, alendronate, pamidronate, and clodronate, respectively. Intravenous administration was as effective as subcutaneous, and oral administration was 100 times less effective. The effect after one administration decreased with time but was still measurable after 2 weeks. Nonstimulated bone resorption assayed by the urinary excretion of radiolabeled tetracycline from lifelong prelabeled animals was also inhibited. This effect started 3 days after a single dose and was still maximal after 7 days. Histomorphometric analysis of the tibial metaphysis in growing intact rats also showed an inhibition of bone resorption along with an increase in bone mass. The number of osteoclasts increased in animals treated with 0.01 and 0.1 mg P per kg (0.16 and 1.6 mumol/kg) body weight SC but decreased in animals given 1 mg P per kg (16.1 mumol/kg), showing that the inhibition of bone resorption was not due to an inhibition of osteoclast recruitment. No inhibition of mineralization occurred. This new bisphosphonate appears to have great potential for use in human bone disease.

Alendronate↗

Sodium EDTA enhances intestinal absorption of two bisphosphonates.

Bisphosphonates are poorly absorbed when given orally and their absorption is subject to a large inter- and intraindividual variability. This poor absorbability is thought to result, at least in part, from formation of unabsorbable complexes with calcium. It was therefore investigated whether the calcium chelator EDTA could improve intestinal absorption of two bisphosphonates, 4-amino-1-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (AHBuBP), and dichloromethylenebisphosphonate (Cl2MBP). Absorption was assessed indirectly by measuring the suppression of hypercalcemia induced in thyroparathyroidectomized rats by a retinoid. The absorption of AHBuBP was in the range of 1-3%. EDTA increased absorption about tenfold at a AHBuBP dose of 0.6 mg P/kg and about twofold at lower doses, with the minimal effective dose of EDTA being 10 mg/kg. The absorption of Cl2MBP was also increased by EDTA, although to a smaller extent, the lowest effective dose being 100 mg/kg EDTA. Thus, EDTA can, in certain circumstances, increase the intestinal absorption of bisphosphonates. The mechanism might involve an increase in available bisphosphonate and a change in mucosal permeability. The amount of EDTA required is, however, too high for use clinically.

Administration, Oral↗

Abnormal renal glucose handling in X-linked hypophosphataemic mice.

1. The renal handling of glucose was determined in male X-linked hypophosphataemic (Hyp/Y) mice and in control littermates (+/Y) aged 4 months. Plasma glucose concentration and urinary glucose excretion were measured before and during stepwise increase in glycaemia induced by an acute infusion of glucose. The relationship between plasma glucose concentration and urinary glucose excretion was monitored per ml of glomerular filtrate in mice fed high and low phosphate diets. 2. Hyp/Y mice fed the high phosphate diet showed a significantly higher glucosuria compared with +/Y littermates. When glycaemia was increased, Hyp/Y mice developed frank glucosuria earlier than +/Y animals. In Hyp/Y mice we could not find a threshold below which virtually no glucose was excreted in the urine, whereas this was clearly visible in +/Y mice. These differences persisted in animals fed the low phosphate diet. 3. Using the acute response to the glucoregulatory hormones, glucagon and insulin, administered exogenously, we found that the regulation of plasma glucose concentration did not differ between Hyp/Y and +/Y mice. 4. The significantly lower plasma glucose concentration observed in Hyp/Y as compared with +/Y mice decreased further during fasting. 5. We conclude that the renal reabsorptive capacity for glucose is defective in Hyp/Y mice and their low plasma glucose concentration may be explained by the renal leak. Therefore the X-linked phosphataemic mouse appears not only to be characterized by a defect in renal phosphate and calcium reabsorption but also by an altered glucose reabsorption.

Animals↗

A method for continual monitoring of bone resorption in rats: evidence for a diurnal rhythm.

A method has been developed to monitor bone resorption (BR) based on the urinary excretion of [3H]tetracycline ([3H]TC) from chronically prelabeled rats. This is possible because the [3H]TC released from bone has been found to be in a form that is not or only poorly bound to apatite and thus not reincorporated into newly formed bone. When BR was increased by means of dietary calcium restriction, parathyroid hormone (PTH) infusion, or retinoid injections, urinary [3H]TC doubled. When BR was inhibited by feeding calcium supplements or administration of dichloromethylenebisphosphonate, [3H]TC excretion dropped by two-thirds. Thyroparathyroidectomy inhibited [3H]TC excretion by one-third. The results obtained with this technique are therefore similar to those obtained with other methods such as 45Ca kinetics. The effect of dietary manipulations on BR was detected within 6 h of changing diet. Furthermore, a strong diet-dependent but PTH- and calcitonin-independent diurnal rhythm in BR was found. By use of this technique, bone resorption can be assessed continuously over long periods, and the acute regulation of bone resorption can be studied for the first time.

Animals↗

Inverse relation between plasma inorganic phosphate and phospholipids in mice: effect of dietary inorganic phosphate, fasting and glucagon.

We measured in mice under various conditions plasma phospholipids (PlipPl), total phosphate (PtotPl), inorganic phosphate (PiPl), and calculated other phosphate-containing material (PXPl) by subtracting (Plip + Pi)Pl from PtotPl. In mice fed low Pi diet (LPD) for 10 days, PlipPl was higher, PxPl did not change, whereas PiPl and PtotPl were lower than under high Pi diet (HPD). A highly significant inverse correlation was found between PlipPl and PiPl. The effect on PlipPl of maneuvers known to change PiPl acutely (within hours) was then investigated. In LPD mice, 6 h fasting, which increases PiPl, led to a decrease of PlipPl without significant changes of PtotPl and PxPl. The conspicuous rise in PiPl observed with glucagon treatment was associated with a decrement of PlipPl of the same magnitude as the increase in PiPl without a change of PtotPl or PxPl. Finally, injection of Pi lowered PlipPl in a dose-dependent manner within 2 h. In mice fed HPD, PlipPl decreased similarly during all acute maneuvers described under LPD, except Pi injection, where it did not decrease. In conclusion, the effects described above would suggest that the regulation of the two phosphate species may be linked and that PlipPl may possibly be involved in Pi homeostasis.

Animals↗

Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 stimulate bone resorption in vivo as measured by urinary [3H]tetracycline excretion from prelabeled mice.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) have been shown to stimulate bone resorption in vitro. We have now investigated whether these cytokines also cause a similar action when administered in vivo. This was made possible by the adaptation of a newly developed technique that enables the continual assessment of bone resorption in vivo in mice by measuring urinary excretion of 3H from [3H]tetracycline-prelabeled animals. Experiments using maneuvers known to influence bone resorption, such as a change in dietary calcium or administration of parathyroid hormone or dichloromethylenebisphosphonate, indicate that the technique is reliable and sensitive in mice. Daily intravenous administration of either recombinant human or recombinant murine TNF-alpha, as well as subcutaneous administration of recombinant human IL-1 alpha, were found to stimulate bone resorption in a dose-dependent manner. The effect was maximal within 2 days. Thus, exogenous TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha can stimulate bone resorption in vivo, suggesting that these cytokines may also exert a systemic effect on bone.

Animals↗