Effect of intermittent parathyroid hormone (1-34) treatment on the bone response after placement of titanium implants into the tibia of ovariectomized rats

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of parathyroid hormone (1-34) [PTH(1-34)] on bone reactions after tibial placement of titanium screw implants into ovariectomized rats. Materials and Methods: Twelve-week-old female Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups of 24. The first group (Sham group) was sham-operated; the second group (OVX group) was ovariectomized only; and the third group (PTH group) was subcutaneously administered 30 μg/kg PTH in the dorsal region 3 days per week starting the fourth week after ovariectomy until the end of the experiment. Titanium screw implants were placed in the proximal metaphysis of the tibia of all 3 groups at 168 days after surgery. The animals were killed 7, 14, 28, and 56 days after implantation. Undecalcified sections were prepared and evaluated by light microscopy. Histomorphometric measurements were obtained using a computer-based image analyzer to quantify the unit bone mass around the implant and the rate of implant-bone contact. Results: When PTH administration was started 21 days after ovariectomy, the volume density of bone around implants in the PTH group was almost the same as that of the Sham group throughout the entire observation period. This finding suggests that not only can intermittent human PTH(1-34) administration prevent resorption of newly generated trabeculae around an implant but also it can aid in the recovery of bone volume lost due to ovariectomy. Conclusion: When dental implants are applied to jaw bone showing trabecular bone loss, it may be possible to increase bone density around an implant by intermittent human PTH(1-34) administration and thereby improve clinical results. © 2003 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons J Oral Maxillofac Surg 61:471-480, 2003