Role of pitavastatin in prevention of osteopenic changes in ovariectomized rats

Objective: To determine the effect of pitavastatin, a third generation statin, on development of osteopenia in ovariectomized rats

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Study Design: Experimental study

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Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, from January to July 2013

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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

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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

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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