Objective: To determine the effect of pitavastatin, a third generation statin, on development of osteopenia in ovariectomized rats.
Study design: Experimental study.
Place and duration of study: Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, from January to July 2013.
Methodology: Forty female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into ovariectomized (OVX), Sham OVX and OVX given pitavastatin 0.4 mg/kg/day, 0.8 mg/kg/day, for 8 weeks. Bone density measurements using CT scan and Archimedes’ principle were made on femora and tibiae. Blood samples were analyzed for acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels.
Results: Ovariectomy-induced osteopenic changes were indicated by significant decrease in bone densities and Hounsfield (HU) index of distal femoral and proximal tibial metaphyses and elevation of ACP and ALP levels. 0.4 mg/kg pitavastatin did not significantly alter the evaluated parameters. 0.8 mg/kg produced a restoration of HU of lower femur and femoral density comparable to Sham. HU of upper tibia and tibial density following 0.8 mg/kg was significantly higher than OVX but was not approximate to Sham. ALP and ACP with 0.8 mg/kg were comparable to Sham.
Conclusion: Supra-therapeutic dose of pitavastatin was effective in preventing estrogen deficiency-induced decrease in bone density of ovariectomized rates, over an 8-week period.