Bone changes in rats with adjuvant arthritis: treatment with 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol.

Adjuvant arthritis was induced in female Lewis rats by the injection of Mycobacterium butyricum in mineral oil in a hindpaw. Bone changes due to polyarthritis were evaluated in the tibia metaphyseal region of the noninjected hind leg. A decrease in bone mass and mineral content was observed in the affected bone. accompanied by a marked increase in bone resorption. Non-arthritic and arthritic rats were treated with the synthetic vitamin D analogue, 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (0.01 to 1.0 micrograms/kg/day orally) for 28 days. Treatment resulted in a small increase in bone weight and mineral content in the non-arthritic rats. Arthritic rats exhibited a larger increase in bone weight, hydroxyproline and calcium content. These beneficial effects were correlated with the ability of 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol to increase extracellular calcium and phosphorus levels, as measured by the increased urinary excretion of calcium and inorganic phosphate and by the increase in serum calcium. Bone resorption and new bone formation were not affected by the treatment.