Histomorphometric evaluation of the effects of intermittent 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol administration on cortical bone remodeling in adult dogs.

The effects of intermittent low doses (1.25 mug daily, administered intravenously for 6 days and withdrawn for 14 days for 3 complete cycles) of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-[OH](2)D(3)) on cortical bone were determined and compared in ribs with steady state and regionally accelerated remodeling in adult intact female dogs. The bone changes were analyzed by dynamic bone histomorphometric methods, using tetracycline and DCAF (2,4 BIS) N, N' di (carboxymethyl) (amino methyl fluorescein) in vivo double labeling of bones before treatment and after 60 days of intermittent 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) administration. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels increased during 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) administration. Urinary hydroxyproline excretion increased during the first interval of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) administration but was not changed significantly during the last two intervals. In normal cortical bone (11th rib) following the administration of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) there was a marked decrease in the activation frequency, bone formation rate, osteoid seam thickness, seam circumference, and mean appositional rate. Although recruitment of new remodeling sites was decreased after 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3), previously existing remodeling units continued to completion. These effects resulted in a preponderance of mature osteons in normal cortical bone. The morphometric changes in cortical bone (9th rib) exposed to both 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) and periosteal elevation were characterized by a marked increase in both the activation frequency and bone formation rate and associated with a decrease in the osteon formation time. Other morphometric parameters that were increased included radial closure rate, numbers of osteoid seams and resorption cavities, ratio of bone resorbing to forming sites, percentage labeled and circumference of osteoid seams, and total and cortical bone areas. The combined effect of periosteal elevation and 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) were markedly different from those observed with 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) alone. These findings suggest that the rapid bone turnover induced by tissue injury will mask or alter the effects of hormones on bone remodeling when studied over a relatively short period of time.