Work

Impact of glucocorticoids on osteocytes and on the lacuno‐canalicular system of maxillary and mandibular alveolar bone

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In long bones, glucocorticoids are known to cause a decrease in bone formation and an increase in bone resorption, leading to a condition of osteoporosis also during growth. However, there are few studies on the effect of glucocorticoids on alveolar bone. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of chronic administration of glucocorticoids on osteocytes and the lacuno-canalicular system of maxillary and mandibular alveolar bone in growing rats. Male Wistar rats were administered intramuscular dexamethasone (7 mg/kg b.w.) or saline solution once a week for 5 weeks. After euthanasia, mandibles and upper maxillae were resected and processed for micro-computed tomography, histological, and immunohistochemical evaluation. Glucocorticoids induced morphological changes in the lacuno-canalicular system and apoptosis of alveolar bone osteocytes and had no effect on SOST/sclerostin osteocyte expression. Our findings suggest that the deleterious effect of glucocorticoids on alveolar bone is associated with osteocyte apoptosis and lacuno-canalicular system changes, whereas Wnt/β catenin pathway regulation in osteocytes appears to play no significant role in the pathogenesis of glucocorticoid-induced bone loss.

Source: European Journal Of Oral Sciences

DOI: 10.1111/eos.70000

Authors: Juliana Rodriguez, Mariela Lacave, Luciana Marina Sánchez, Romina Carmen De Lucca, Deborah Ruth Tasat, Carola Bettina Bozal

Institution: Universidad de Buenos Aires

Language: English

Topic: Bone Metabolism and Diseases

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica, Universidad de Buenos Aires