The Effect of Zoledronate Pretreatment on BMP Induced Bone Formation in Mice

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (rhBMPs) are increasingly used for reconstructing bony defects, fracture non-unions, and augmenting existing bone volumes. For the numerous patients taking bisphosphonates, the impact of prior bisphosphonate treatment on rhBMP bone induction is not well understood. Objective: to evaluate the effect of the prior treatment with zoledronate on rhBMP induced bone formation in mice. Methods: 42 mice were pre-treated with 0, 2, and 20 µg of zoledronate/mouse. The osteoinductive activity of a bioimplant, containing rhBMP-2, was assessed using the mouse muscle pouch assay, and analyzed with micro CT and histology. Results: micro CT demonstrated that BMP bioimplants placed in mice pretreated with 20 µg of zoledronate, formed bony ossicles of greater volume but reduced bone density compared to controls. Histologically, the heterotopic ossicles from the 20 µg group consisted of more immature bone than those from the other groups. Conclusion: bone induced by rhBMP-2 in mice pre-treated with a high concentration of zoledronate was immature as evidenced by radiographic and histologic appearance.MAS