Interaction of dichloromethylene diphosphonate and vitamin D on bone of thyroparathyroidectomized rats.

Dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP) antagonized the action of vitamin D on bone in thyroparathyroidectomized rats by reducing the metabolic activity of osteoblasts and osteocytes and decreasing the number of osteoclasts. Ultrastructurally, osteoblasts in Cl2MDP-treated rats were interpreted to be less active in bone matrix synthesis. Osteocytes in Cl2MDP-treated rats were interpreted ultrastructurally to be inactive; there was no evidence of bone resorption when compared to osteocytes in rats given vitamin D alone. Abnormal osmiophilic densities in the pericellular bone matrix of rats given vitamin D alone were not present in rats given vitamin D and Cl2MDP. The ultrastructure of osteoclasts was unaltered by Cl2MDT. These cellular changes were associated with a decrease in serum calcium and increase in bone ash and magnesium concentration in rats given high levels (10 mg/kg) of Cl2MDP. Bone adenosine triphosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activities were not affected by Cl2MDP. These results suggest that Cl2MDP may limit the hypercalcemia of hypervitaminosis D by directly inhibiting bone cells in addition to its physicochemical action.