Abstract

Both osteoporosis and hypertension are major diseases in aging populations. This work was provided to investigate the possible effect of the nonselective beta adrenoceptor antagonist; carvedilol against postmenopausal osteoporosis in adult rats. Ovariectomized rats were gavaged with carvedilol (10 mg/kg) daily for 60 days. Serum levels of estradiol, calcium and osteoblastic markers (alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin) were measured. The bone resorbing cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) were also evaluated. The oxidative stress markers were determined via measuring the lipid peroxidation product and the anti-oxidant markers in the serum. The bones were prepared for histomorphometric study. In comparison to the ovariectomized rats, carvedilol caused significant attenuation of the bone loss, biomechanical fragility, bone resorbing cytokines and oxidative stress. Current evidence suggests that administration of carvedilol has a beneficial effect on the bone quality in OVX rats via its antioxidant effect and attenuation of the bone resorbing cytokines.

Keywords: Beta blocker, carvedilol, IL-6, osteoporosis, oxidative stress, TNF-α.