OBJECTIVETo observe the effect and mechanisim of zoledronate sodium on periprosthetic osteolysis in rat induced by polyethylene particles.

METHODSTotal 30 adult male SD rats, weighting from 250 to 300 g, were selected and randomly divided into three groups: blank control group, model control group and zoledronate sodium group respectively, 10 animals for each group. No treatment was performed in the blank control group. In model control group and zoledronate sodium group, the modle of periprosthetic osteolysis in rats were made by implanting polyethylene particles and titanium rods into their right femurs. After operation, rats in zoledronate sodium group were administered with zoledronate sodium (0.1 mg/kg each week) through subcutaneous injection for 8 weeks, then the blood was obtained and all experimental animals were sacrificed to get the right femur specimens. The femur BMD, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, serum TRACP5b and CTX-I were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the model control group, the femur BMD was increased, while IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were all decreased in zoledronate sodium group; the serum TRACP5b and CTX-I level were both reduced in zoledronate sodium group.

CONCLUSIONThe zoledronate sodium could effectively inhibit periprosthetic osteolysis in rats induced by polyethylene particles, which might be realized by inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts and the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. It provides a new method to treat periprosthetic osteolysis of the artificial joint prosthesis.