Captopril improves osteopenia in ovariectomized rats and promotes bone formation in osteoblasts

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), on bone loss in aged ovariectomized (OVX) rats and its impact on the differentiation of cultured primary osteoblasts. Ten-month-old female Sprague–Dawley rats were used for the study. After 2 months post ovariectomy (OVX), the rats were treated with captopril (1 or 5 mg/kg/day, respectively) for another 2 months. At endpoint, trabecular bone of the fourth lumbar vertebrae (L4) was undecalcified and examined by bone histomorphometry; the fifth lumbar vertebrae (L5) were examined by compression test. Primary osteoblasts were isolated from the calvaria of newborn rats and treated with different concentrations of captopril in a different durations. The content of secreted alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and mRNA expression of collagen I in osteoblasts were determined to demonstrate osteoblast bone formation. In aged rats with estrogen deficiency-induced osteopenia, captopril increased the trabecular area (%BV/TV) of L4 up to 33% and improved biomechanical properties by increasing L5 break stress and elastic modulus when compared to those in the OVX group (P < 0.01). Captopril showed dose-dependent effects on promoting the secretion of ALP and increased mRNA expression of collagen I in the cultured rat osteoblasts. In summary, captopril, one of the most widely used ACEIs, has the potential effects of improving lumbar vertebral bone strength in aged OVX rats and promoting osteoblast bone formation in vitro.