Effects of Teriparatide and Alendronate on Functional Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury and Postinjury Bone Loss

This research investigates how two osteoporosis drugs, teriparatide (TPTD) and alendronate (ALN), impact bone health and motor recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. The study aimed to determine if these drugs, typically used for age-related osteoporosis, could help with bone loss and nerve repair following SCI. Rats with SCI were treated with TPTD, ALN, or a control substance for 12 weeks. Researchers then assessed bone density, spinal cord tissue damage, and motor skills. The findings indicated that TPTD was more effective than ALN in preventing bone loss, improving motor function, and reducing spinal cord damage. TPTD's benefits may be due to its ability to stimulate new bone formation and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the spinal cord. This suggests TPTD could be a valuable treatment for SCI patients, helping to protect against bone loss and potentially improve nerve recovery.

• 1
  TPTD significantly increased bone mineral density and other key bone indicators after SCI in rats, while ALN did not show significant improvement in these areas.
• 2
  Rats treated with TPTD showed significantly greater motor function recovery, as measured by BBB scores and gait analysis, compared to the control group. ALN showed some improvement in BBB scores but not in gait parameters.
• 3
  TPTD significantly reduced the cavity area in the spinal cord after SCI, decreased scar tissue, and increased myelin retention, indicating better spinal cord tissue repair compared to the control and ALN groups.