Comparison of the effects of once-weekly and once-daily rhPTH (1-34) injections on promoting fracture healing in rodents.

To compare the efficacy of once-weekly and once-daily subcutaneous injections of teriparatide (recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1-34) on fracture healing, 50 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a unilateral tibia fracture and received internal fixation with a Kirschner needle. Based on the injection dose and frequency, the rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=10 each): subcutaneous injections of saline or 10 mu g/kg/w, 20 mu g/kg/w, 10 mu g/kg/d, and 20 mu g/kg/d teriparatide. Four weeks later, the rats were euthanatized, and the fractured tibiae were assessed using X-rays, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, micro-computed tomography, the three-point bending biomechanics test, and histology. Compared to the saline control group, either daily or weekly subcutaneous injections of teriparatide significantly increased bone mass, improved the bone microarchitecture, and promoted fracture healing (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in bone mineral density (BMD), bone microstructure or bone strength between the 20 mu g/kg/w and 10 mu g/kg/d groups (p>0.05). Teriparatide 20 mu g weekly injections promoted bone fracture healing to the same extent as teriparatide 10 mu g daily injections, which can dramatically decrease the cumulative dosage of teriparatide injections. (c) 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:1145-1152, 2018.