EN
The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of Strontium Ranelate (RS) on the mineral density and mechanical properties of the femur in male Wistar rats during experimental osteopenia induced by bilateral gonadectomy. After adaptation, the rats were randomly divided and subjected to sham-operations (SHO) (n = 10) and bilateral orchidectomy (ORX) (n = 20). ORX rats were subsequently divided into the control group (ORX/K) and experimental group treated with RS (ORX/RS), administered by gavage, at a dose of 900 mg/kg b.w. The experiment lasted 60 days and then the animals were killed, blood collected, and femora isolated. Femora were analyzed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) to determine volumetric bone mineral density of the cortical part of the shaft of the column (Ct.vBMD), endoosteal and periosteal circumferences, cortical thickness (Ct.Th) and Strength Strain Index (SSI). Measurements were performed on 50% of bone length. The bones were tested using the three-point bending test to estimate ultimate strength and resilience. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and concentrations of Ca and P in the blood serum were estimated. The obtained results indicated that the use of strontium ranelate in orchidectomized rats over a period of 60 days not only inhibited the reabsorbing processes induced by a lack of gonad steroids but also accelerated processes of new bone tissue formation, which improved their mechanical parameters and ultimate strength and maximum elasticity.