Cell Biology – Immunology – Pathology
Kidney International (1998) 54, 448–456; doi:10.1046/j.1523-1755.1998.00035.x
Strontium causes osteomalacia in chronic renal failure rats
Iris Schrooten, Walter Cabrera, William G Goodman, Simonne Dauwe, Ludwig V Lamberts, Rita Marynissen, Walter Dorriné, Marc E De Broe and Patrick C D'Haese
Departments of Nephrology and Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Belgium, and Department of Radiology Science, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
Correspondence: Marc E. De Broe, M.D., Ph.D, Department of Nephrology-Hypertension, University of Antwerp, p/a University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650 Edegem/Antwerp, Belgium. E-mail: snelders@uia.ua.ac.be
Received 19 December 1997; Revised 18 March 1998; Accepted 18 March 1998.
Abstract
Strontium causes osteomalacia in chronic renal failure rats.
Background
We recently reported an association between increased bone strontium (Sr) levels and osteomalacia in dialysis patients.
Methods
To delineate whether or not Sr acts as a causal factor in the development of osteomalacia, we devised the following study: four groups of chronic renal failure (CRF) rats were given Sr, aluminum (Al), both of these compounds or none of the elements (controls).
Results
Administration of Sr and/or Al resulted in increased bone levels of the respective elements. Histological examination revealed impairment of mineralization in the Sr group and to a lesser extent in the Al group as compared to the control group. There was also a significant increase in osteoid area in the Sr group, but not in the Al group. No differences in bone surface or erodic perimeter were noted between the various study groups. Histochemically, Sr could be localized in calcified bone, mainly in new bone close to the osteoid/calcification front, a critical site of bone mineralization. Histochemical findings were confirmed by electron probe X-ray microanalysis.
Conclusions
These findings indicate that Sr accumulation in chronic renal failure rats resulted in the development of osteomalacic lesions, in contrast to the Al group where adynamic bone disease was induced in the present set-up. Further studies are required to define the mechanism by which way Sr causes osteomalacia in chronic renal failure rats.
Keywords:
aluminum, bone, adynamic bone disease, dialysis, bone mineralization, osteodystrophy, hyperparathyroidism, hypomineralization
Abbreviations:
Al, aluminum; B. Ar, total bone area; BFR, bone formation rate; Ca, calcium; CRF, chronic renal failure; dLS, double labeled surface; E. Pm, eroded surface; EPXMA, electron probe X-ray microanalysis; iPTH, intact parathyroid hormone; MAR, mineral apposition rate; MLT, mineralization lag time; O. Ar, osteoid area; O. Th, osteoid thickness; Sr, strontium
