Prevention of the toxic effect of uranium on bone formation by tetracycline

Abstract

In a previous experiment we demonstrated the inhibitory effect of uranium on bone formation (1). The healing of alveoli after tooth extractions is impaired by uranium intoxication; only a small amount of bone was formed in their fundus. Tetracycline (TC) was used as a marker in intoxicated and non-intoxicated animals with the aim to evalúate the rate of bone formation in alveolar wound healing. Surprisingly TC reverted the toxic effect of uranium on bone formation.